NEC Corporation has completed construction of the East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS), a submarine cable connecting three Pacific island nations. The cable has been handed over to the Federated States of Micronesia’s (FSM) submarine cable operator, FSM Telecommunications Cable Corporation (FSMTCC), the Republic of Kiribati’s state-owned telecommunications company, Bwebweriki Net Limited (BNL), and the Republic of Nauru’s state-owned telecommunications company, Cenpac Corporation.
EMCS is a submarine cable spanning approximately 2,250 km, connecting three countries and four islands in the Pacific island region: the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Nauru. Specifically, it connects from Tarawa Island in Kiribati to Nauru Island, then via Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia to Pohnpei.
This is the first optical submarine cable connecting the state of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia, Tarawa in Kiribati and Nauru. Previously, telecommunications was limited to satellite communications, resulting in issues such as communication delays and unstable connections.
EMCS will provide high-speed, high-quality and highly reliable internet communications, which will significantly improve the user experience for various online systems, such as video calls and electronic payments. It will contribute to enhancing the daily lives of residents through enabling digitalisation and further support the economic and social development of each country.
The EMCS Project is supported by the governments of Australia (through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific) Japan and the US, and is being implemented with grant funding from the three countries.
