TECH giant Google has signed a partnership agreement with Telecom Fiji Ltd for the construction of its domestic infrastructure to connect its ICT facility in Natadola to its International cables at the Fiji International
Telecommunications Ltd (FINTEL) cable landing station in Vatuwaqa.
The signing, which took place at Natadola yesterday, will see Telecom Fiji design, build and maintain a terrestrial fiber optic link connecting the two points.
Telecom Fiji’s chief executive officer Charles Goundar said the agreement was a landmark moment for the company.
“This is not just another project but a statement of commitment to world class standards, resilience and towards Fiji’s strategic growth in the Pacific,” Mr Goundar said.
“Working with Google – a global leader in technology and innovation reaffirms the confidence in our local expertise, our engineering capabilities and our ability to deliver infrastructure that meets and exceeds international standards.
“Through this project, we will deliver added high capacity terrestrial fiber route along Fiji’s Queens highway interlinking key nodes in the region’s connectivity chain.”
The project is part of the Google’s Pacific Connect initiative, which aims to enhance the reach, reliability and resilience of connectivity across the Pacific, while also ensuring long-term scalability for Fiji and the broader region.
Google Network Investment’s global lead Brian Quigley said they were pleased to have partnered with another local company.
“With the arrival of the Bulikula and Tabua subsea cables, Fiji has been established as a premier connectivity hub for the Pacific,” he said.
“This is now bolstered by our new agreement with Telecom Fiji to fund direct fiber-optic connectivity between the Vatuwaqa and Natadola sites, which will deliver added reliability, support Fiji’s digital transformation and help bridge the digital divide in the Pacific.”
Telecom Fiji will construct the terrestrial fiber optic route between Natadola and Vatuwaqa, provide ongoing maintenance and operational support to ensure high network performance and uptime, and ensure full compliance with international standards and security best practices.
The Bulikula and Tabua subsea cable systems land at two key points in Fiji — Natadola and Vatuwaqa.
Interconnecting these locations through a robust terrestrial fiber route ensures continuity, speed and efficiency in data transmission, which is vital for both local and regional connectivity.
