Hawaiian Telecom is working on a new domestic subsea cable system.

Hawaiian Telecom this week announced an agreement with I.T. International Telecom Marine SRL (IT), for the turnkey design, supply, and installation of the Kunoa North inter-island fiber optic cable system.

The telco said the project will complement its existing southern fiber route and create a more resilient fiber network that will enhance connectivity across the Hawaiian Islands.

The repeater-less project is expected to be completed in 2028. Full route details haven’t been shared.

“Providing reliable, high-speed Internet access in Hawai’i, especially for those in rural, underserved, or unserved communities, is one of our top priorities,” said Su Shin, president of Hawaiian Telcom. “Our partnership with IT will help us maximize our fiber presence throughout the state and deliver gigabit connectivity to residents and businesses across Hawai’i.”

Hawaiian Telcom’s $87 million Kunoa North project includes a $37m National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant, with the remaining $50m financed by Hawaiian Telcom.

“IT has a 30-year history of successful subsea cable system implementation across the globe and between the Hawaiian Islands,” said Steve Arsenault, vice president, sales and marketing at IT. “The unique northern route for Kunoa North will add much-needed redundancy to ultimately strengthen the overall resiliency of Hawai’i’s subsea digital infrastructure. IT is proud to contribute to this important work.”

Founded in 1883, Hawaiian Telecom is the incumbent telecoms operator in Hawaii. The company offers fiber and connectivity services, as well as data center colocation and various managed services. It offers colo from two facilities – Endeavor on Oahu and Kawaihae in Hawaii Island.

The telco’s domestic Hawaii Island Fibre Network (HIFN) system connects Hawaii’s major islands, but is close to 30 years old. Hawaiian Telecom is also part of the SEA-US cable. The company also manages Hawaii’s copper network, though it is being retired.

Founded as the Mutual Telephone Company, what is now Hawaiian Telecom became part of GTE Corp in the 1960s, eventually rebranding to Verizon Hawaii. The Carlyle Group acquired the unit in 2004. After bankruptcy and then going public, Cincinnati Bell (now Altafiber) acquired the company in 2017. Altafiber is owned by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets.

IT is an ISO-certified provider of desktop study, marine route survey, engineering design, installation, and maintenance services for submarine cable systems worldwide.

Hawaii is a major landing point for cables linking Asia to the US mainland. Ocean Networks and the University of Hawai’i are working on a new domestic cable, known as Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL).