Australia and Papua New Guinea partner on transformative high-speed internet project

The strength of the Papua New Guinea – Australia partnership was demonstrated further this week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a trilateral project to deliver the Coral Sea Cable System. 

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, and Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela at the MOU signing in Canberra

The three Prime Ministers from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia led the signing event. 

In Port Moresby today a subsidiary arrangement was also signed.

The Coral Sea Cable System is a showcase of how Papua New Guinea and Australia continue to enhance our bilateral ties and common interests through transformative projects.

The new cable system will better connect Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia through the installation of undersea telecommunication cables. 

The project will enable high-speed internet capability to Papua New Guinea, resulting in significant improvements to internet reliability and quality.

The new system will enable local businesses to access new opportunities in the region and globally, and provide opportunities to leverage technology to deliver improved government services. 

This will result in substantial economic and development opportunities for Papua New Guinea.

At the signing event in Port Moresby to confirm arrangements with the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Bruce Davis said that Australia is proud to be partnering with Papua New Guinea on this exciting project.  

Chief Secretary to the Government Isaac Lupari (PNG), Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Dr Martin Parkinson (Australia), Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela, and Undersecretary for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma (Solomon Islands) at the MOU signing in Canberra

Davis went on to say that “the new cable system underscores Papua New Guinea’s efforts to promote economic integration in the Pacific in its 2018 APEC host year, and to foster domestic growth opportunities".

The Coral Sea Cable System is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. 

Australia will fund the majority of the project, with Papua New Guinea to provide an important co-contribution. 

Solomon Islands will also provide a contribution as a partner in this trilateral project.