Vanuatu is set to enhance its global connectivity with the installation of a second 411-kilometer Tamtam submarine data cable. This significant development marks a pivotal moment as it represents the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) inaugural transaction under its new Wayfinder Program, emphasizing the importance of reliable internet access and improved disaster resilience for local businesses and communities.
ADB President Masato Kanda highlighted the project’s dual benefits—ensuring consistent internet connectivity while also enhancing the country’s ability to withstand disasters. The financing package for this initiative includes a $4.5 million loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and potentially up to $1.9 million in reimbursable grants from the private sector wing of the Asian Development Fund.
The Wayfinder Program aims to mitigate risks associated with strategic infrastructure projects in the Pacific, driving private investment in regions that are often considered high-risk. Alongside providing better phone and internet services, the new Tamtam cable will feature remote monitoring sensors, offering real-time climate data and early warning signals for tsunamis and earthquakes. This feature is particularly crucial for Vanuatu, as past natural disasters have severely disrupted local businesses and livelihoods.
Local business owners, like Cainton Milroy from Pikinini Bar, shared their experiences of the detrimental effects that the lack of reliable connections during crises had on operations and cash flows. The new cable is expected to instill a sense of psychological reassurance among small business owners and attract larger investments to the area, creating a trickle-down effect that could ultimately benefit smaller enterprises.
Emma Veve, ADB’s Director-General for the Pacific Department, emphasized Vanuatu’s vulnerability due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, thereby underlining the necessity for resilient infrastructure and accurate environmental data to enhance rapid response capabilities.
Through initiatives like these, ADB seeks to promote private-sector investment in the Pacific, addressing complex challenges that hinder developmental progress. The arrival of the Tamtam cable is not only a leap towards improved communication but also a hopeful step toward fostering a more resilient and prosperous future for the people of Vanuatu.
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