The Tuvalu Vaka subsea cable has been launched by the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TTC).

In a post to LinkedIn, TTC's CEO, Tenanoia Veronica Simona, announced that the cable was now ready for operations.

Simona wrote: "The launch of the Vaka Cable marks a defining and emotional moment for Tuvalu, the Government, and for TTC. This connection to the global network is more than a technological milestone, it’s an investment in our people, our economy, and our shared future."

"With faster, more reliable, and affordable connectivity, we are unlocking new opportunities for education, healthcare, innovation, and digital inclusion across Tuvalu. TTC remains committed to ensuring that no one is left behind as we chart our course toward a fully connected and digital Tuvalu."

Construction on the cable, which is a branching unit of Google's Bulikula cable, began in December 2024.

In October 2023, the US Trade and Development Agency awarded TTC with a grant for the 15,900km (9,879 miles) subsea cable between Guam and Samoa, with the aim of connecting Pacific Island countries. The cable has four fiber pairs.

Simona added: "This achievement has only been possible through the steadfast support of the Government of Tuvalu, our donor partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the US, our technical partner Google, and its subcontractors, CIENA, local contractors, and everyone who contributed from every angle of the project."

With the cable now live, TTC has been able to reduce the cost of mobile plans by 50 percent, and FTTP Vaka Plans and WiFi rates by 15 percent. According to the company, it is the first subsea cable connection to the rest of the world for Tuvalu.

The cable is part of Google's Pacific Connect initiative. In 2024, Google filed an application for the Tabua subsea system. It is also planning the Proa cable, set to connect Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands with Japan.