The Manatua cable is be a point-to-point connection between Apia and Tahiti, with branching units to Niue, Aitutaki, Rarotonga and Bora Bora. It has the potential to solve problems for all connected parties. French Polynesia has wanted to improve the resilience of their single cable since it was commissioned in 2010. Samoa has a goal of becoming the Information Technology hub for the South Pacific by 2020. And the Cook Islands has been thinking of moving away from satellite since 2013; their Manatua project having been underway since 2016.

In October 2018, all of the financial issues between the parties were agreed upon, and TE Subcom was contracted to build the cable on 20 November. Cook Island obligations are being funded with a USD 15 million grant from the New Zealand government, and a USD 15 million loan from Asia Development Bank (ADB). The Cook Islands’ government will have a five-year grace period, a 20-year repayment term on the loan, and a floating interest rate based on LIBOR.

A detailed analysis about the Manatua Cable & how it will affect the Cook Islands is available on the APNIC Blog. The cable was ready for service in July 2020. 

Lands at:

• Aitutaki, Cook Islands
• Alofi, Niue
• Apia, Samoa
• Rarotonga, Cook Islands
• To'ahotu, French Polynesia
• Vaitape, French Polynesia

Additional Resources:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20190627013221/http://www.loopsamoa.com/samoa-news/samoa-endorse-manatua-cable-network-80654
• https://web.archive.org/web/20190627013225/https://subtelforum.com/subcom-manatua-cable-contract-force/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20190627013615/http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/67313-manatua-cable-project-set-to-start/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20200806075514/https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3826021/the-manatua-one-polynesia-cable-now-rfs