Thursday 11 December 2025
The Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr., has officially announced the USD $120 million Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative, a landmark bilateral infrastructure program under the Pukpuk Treaty. The initiative will deliver three new submarine cable systems to Papua New Guinea, strengthening the nation’s digital backbone with high-capacity connectivity to:
- Northern Papua New Guinea
- Southern Papua New Guinea
- The Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Together, these routes will establish a resilient, multi-path network designed to safeguard national connectivity and expand access across underserved regions.
Fully Funded by Australia
Minister Tsiamalili Jr. underscored that the project carries no financial burden to the State, with the entire investment funded through Australia’s commitments under the Pukpuk Treaty. This ensures Papua New Guinea gains world-class telecommunications infrastructure without drawing on the national budget.
Strategic Partnerships
The Minister emphasized that the initiative represents a direct implementation of the Pukpuk Treaty, reflecting the shared commitment of Papua New Guinea and Australia to advance digital security, regional stability, and national development.
Earlier today, Minister Tsiamalili Jr., alongside Australian High Commissioner to PNG HE Ewen McDonald and United States Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock, engaged in high-level discussions with Google Sydney. Google, a global leader in subsea cable development, will play a central role in the rollout, as part of its broader Indo-Pacific cable deployment program.
Key Outcomes of the Initiative
The Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative will:
- Establish three international-grade subsea routes, reducing reliance on single points of failure
- Expand connectivity to underserved regions, including Bougainville
- Enhance the stability and quality of national telecommunications services
- Position Papua New Guinea to attract investment from hyper-scalers and global digital enterprises
Minister Tsiamalili Jr. described the initiative as a milestone in the nation’s digital journey:
“This investment is a major step forward for Papua New Guinea. The Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative lays the foundation for our country’s long-term digital growth and positions PNG to be a regional digital anchor.”
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