Google’s $200M Data Center in Fiji: What It Means for Vanuatu and the Pacific

July 1, 2025

Google is investing FJ$200 million to build a major ICT hub in Natadola, Fiji, including a “green data center” and a cable landing station linking four new subsea cables to the United States, Australia, Guam, Japan, French Polynesia, and more. This is not just about Fiji—it’s a regional game-changer for the entire Pacific, including Vanuatu.

What Google Is Building

Four new subsea cables: Honomoana, Tabua, Bulikula, and Halaihai, forming a high-capacity, redundant ring across the Pacific.
Cable landing station: Linking Fiji to global digital routes while ensuring faster, stable connections.
Terrestrial fibre link: Connecting Fiji’s main island internally to distribute capacity.
“Green data center”: Supporting cloud infrastructure and regional server hosting needs.

These cables and facilities are designed with branching units to allow neighbouring Pacific islands, like Vanuatu, to connect efficiently without the cost of building full trans-Pacific cables themselves.

Why This Matters for the Pacific

Greater connectivity & redundancy: No more relying on a single cable; the new system offers backup routes if one line is damaged.
Better internet speeds: The increase in capacity will enable faster connections, supporting online education, e-government, telehealth, and business growth.
Economic opportunities: Google estimates the Fiji project alone could add US$250 million to Fiji’s GDP by 2030 and create over 3,600 jobs.
Geopolitical stability: This initiative is supported by Australia and the US, strengthening the Pacific’s digital independence.

Why Vanuatu Should Care

For Vanuatu, this is a practical opportunity to:
✅ Tap into faster, cheaper bandwidth by connecting to these cables via branching units.
✅ Improve resilience, ensuring critical services remain online even during cable damage or cyclones.
✅ Boost digital economic development through reliable connectivity supporting fintech, remote work, and tourism.
✅ Integrate into a trusted, geopolitically supported regional network.

What’s Next?

These cables are expected to be operational around 2026.
Vanuatu’s telecoms and government can explore partnerships with Google or regional carriers to connect.
This offers a real pathway for Vanuatu to leap ahead in digital infrastructure without massive solo investments, empowering a new generation of connectivity and service delivery.

Sources:

⚠️ Disclaimer: Readers should use this as a general reference only and confirm specifics with project implementers or government agencies for mission-critical planning.

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