Friday 30 January 2026
Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology and Minister for Works and Highways Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr announced the National Executive Council’s approval of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) proposal for a USD $120 million package which covers three new international submarine cable connections for Papua New Guinea, now designated by Government as the Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative
Minister Tsiamalili Jr stated that this NEC decision is one of the most important digital infrastructure approvals in our nation’s recent history.
The Pukpuk Connectivity Project will deliver multiple undersea cable routes to improve redundancy and ensure stable, resilient connectivity across the country.
“This proposal will come at no direct cost to the State,” Tsiamalili Jr stated.
The Acting ICT Minister stated that the new infrastructure will significantly enhance digital reliability and reduce the risk of outages.
“The Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative is structured around a multi‑route undersea cable solution, designed to bring three additional international cable connections to serve different parts of Papua New Guinea, specifically to improve redundancy and reduce single points of failure,” he said.
The Minister highlighted key benefits for both businesses and citizens, including fewer disruptions, improved service quality, and long‑term cost reductions as competition strengthens.
He added that stronger backbone infrastructure will support essential services such as “education, health, banking, and digital government.”
The initiative is expected to open new pathways for major digital investment.
“This initiative is not only about faster internet. It is about positioning Papua New Guinea as a credible digital investment destination,” Tsiamalili Jr. stated.
He explained that enhanced redundancy and predictable wholesale capacity will make PNG more attractive for:
- global tech firms;
- data centre investments;
- regional corporate hubs;
- growth in fintech, cloud services, and software development; and
- the expansion of local digital enterprises.
Tsiamalili added that a data‑centre‑driven economy will generate jobs across engineering, cyber security, construction, facilities management, compliance, and broader supply chains.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been appointed as the project sponsor and will now undertake technical and economic assessments, site identification, inter-agency coordination, and national security planning.
The Acting ICT Minister emphasized that the project must support competition and consumer protections, stating that consultations will focus on ensuring “open and fair wholesale access,” strong resilience standards, affordability, and long‑term investment certainty.
A public press conference will be held in the last week of February to outline the implementation of roadmap.
The approval forms part of a nationwide program to modernize connectivity infrastructure. DICT and NICTA are currently developing a National Connectivity Blueprint to identify coverage gaps and recommend the best mix of technologies.
Minister Tsiamalili also referenced ongoing developments in satellite communications, expressing hope that the pending Starlink court matter will be resolved soon to restore certainty around Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite deployment.
“Papua New Guinea remains open to seeing other LEO satellite operators enter the market in 2026 as part of a competitive and resilient connectivity landscape—particularly for rural and remote communities,” he stated.
Minister Tsiamalili Jr. thanked Prime Minister Hon. James Marape for supporting the government’s ICT agenda and acknowledged the Australian Government and AIFFP for their partnership.
“The Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative is strategic national infrastructure. It strengthens resilience, supports affordability over time, and builds the foundation for major digital economy investment—while remaining aligned with Papua New Guinea’s national security responsibilities and our commitments under the Pukpuk Treaty.”
Read Press Statement