US Government Funds $132M for Marshall Islands Subsea Cable — IOKWE Project Connects RMI to Google's Pacific Connect Network
The US government announced a $132 million funding package to integrate the Republic of the Marshall Islands into Google's Pacific Connect initiative through the IOKWE subsea fiber-optic cable system. Formalized on March 23 following the Honolulu Investment Summit in February, the project will connect RMI to Google's Halaihai transpacific trunk line, providing critical redundancy and high-speed connectivity to replace the nation's single-cable dependency. Backed by USTDA's $3.4 million feasibility grant, this is part of a broader $230 million Pacific Islands Partnership commitment — the most substantial direct digital infrastructure investment in the Pacific to date.