Google’s ICT facility at Natadola will hold a new cable landing station that will house vital infrastructure, including data transmission servers and racks, and power generating equipment to support international fiber optic cables that Google will lay into and in Fiji.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka when officiating at the groundbreaking of the new facility on Saturday.
“This infrastructure will promote Fiji as a hub for digital connectivity within the Pacific,” he said.
“The ICT facility will house the second cable landing station in Viti Levu, and one which will strengthen Fiji’s internet connectivity and make it more resilient, with two landings stations, one in the Central Division and one here in the West.”
The state-of-the-art ICT facility will support Google’s transnational subsea telecommunication cables across the Pacific, with Fiji as a hub.
The cables will connect Fiji to the United States mainland, strengthening connectivity with North America, to Australlia and Japan, expanding regional digital integration and to Chile, a first such cable route for Fiji and the Pacific.
“With this ICT facility, Fiji will serve as a critical node in the global internet ecosystem, connecting Asia, the Americas, and Oceania,” Mr Rabuka said.
“This will strengthen international data flows, foster innovation, and open doors for Pacific communities to participate in the global digital economy and ensure that no Fijian is left behind in this age of technology.
“This project exemplifies our vision of empowering the people of Fiji in unity. Our government is dedicated to welcoming world-class investments like this, which align with our goals of sustainable growth and resilience.”
Representing Google at the groundbreaking event were Google’s vice president Global Network Infrastructure Brian Quigley and Google’s Submarine Innovation lead Shirshendu Bhattacharya.
“This new ICT facility in Natadola creates a world class connectivity hub in the Pacific and is another example of Google’s commitment to improving global connectivity,” Mr Quigley said.
“This facility along with four new fiber optic connections connecting Fiji to the United States, Australia, Japan and Chile are part of an initiative called Pacific Connect and are significant steps towards bridging the digital divide.”
Google is collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Fiji National Provident Fund and Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd (FINTEL).
