16 December 2025
The Solomon Islands is preparing to receive a second international subsea cable connection, thanks to a project funded by the Australian government. This new cable will connect with Google’s upcoming Bulikula system, enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to a statement from the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) last week, the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company (SISCC), along with the governments of Solomon Islands and Australia, has agreed to construct the 1,015km Adamasia Cable System 1. This new cable will link the islands to the Bulikula subsea network being developed by Google.
The project is financed with AUD 104 million, comprising a grant of AUD 71.9 million and a loan of AUD 31.9 million. Additionally, the financing package includes AUD 1.8 million from the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership to support off-grid electricity generation and storage capabilities, aiming to bolster climate resilience.
The Bulikula cable system, announced by Google in January 2024 and co-invested by Telstra, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), and APTelecom, plans to create a fiber ring connecting Fiji, Guam, French Polynesia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Adamasia cable will interconnect with Bulikula between Fiji and Guam, providing critical redundancy and disaster resilience for the Solomon Islands’ existing international connectivity.
Currently, the Solomon Islands relies solely on the Coral Sea Cable System (CS²), connecting it with Papua New Guinea and Sydney, Australia. No specific timeline has been provided for the Adamasia cable’s completion, but the Bulikula system is expected to be operational next year.
Looking ahead, another potential project is the Hawaiki Nui 1 subsea system, developed by BW Digital and Telin (Telkom Indonesia’s international division). With a capacity exceeding 240 Tbps, it will link Australia, Indonesia, and Singapore, with optional branches extending to the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste. This system is scheduled for completion in 2027.
