Manatua Cable and Telecom Liberalisation

A submarine fibre-optic connection and telecom liberalisation framework that delivered resilient international bandwidth to the Cook Islands.

The Manatua submarine cable connected the Cook Islands to a multi-thousand-kilometre regional fibre system, with landing points on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and was paired with a 2019 policy opening the telecommunications market to competition. Together they underpinned upgraded capacity and 4G+ coverage across Rarotonga and the major populated Pa Enua. The cable is now protected under the Manatua Cable Protection Act 2024.