A $120 million public-private partnership between the University of Hawaii and Atlanta-based Ocean Networks, Inc. aims to construct a submarine optical fiber cable system that will connect the Hawaiian Islands and expand high-speed broadband internet throughout the state.
According to a Jan. 25 announcement from UH, the project, dubbed the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link, or HIFL, is a "key component" of the state's broadband initiative, Connect Kakou.
"Under the direction of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Connect Kakaou will ensure that people from all walks of life have reliable and affordable access to high-speed internet," the announcement noted.
"This inter-island cable system will leverage the once-in-a-generation federal investment for technological infrastructure and position our state for long-term economic growth,” Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. "The resulting network will be open to all carriers and sufficiently robust to support all manner of telecommunications carrier and enterprise traffic, including anticipated future high-capacity demands supporting healthcare, education, research, public service, commerce, and government uses."
According to the announcement, ONI is responsible for the supply, construction, operations and maintenance of the inter-island cable system.
Partial funding will be provided through a federal grant, the announcement noted, adding that the remaining funds will be secured by ONI through private equity and secured debt.
"When it goes online, HIFL will be able to process a high volume of data with minimal delay and will be the inter-island backbone of Connect Kakou," the announcement read.
"This is just one part of our plan to guarantee the state’s long-term internet connectivity," Luke said in a statement. "Connect Kakou has over $500 million in federal grants, state funds, and private matching funds available as we work towards connecting the unconnected and make sure everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet."
According to the announcement, HIFL will be a carrier-neutral, open-access system with landing sites on Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Lanai and Molokai that will improve inter-island and regional connectivity.
The system will have 24 fiber pairs with a design life of 25 years and is expected to be ready for service in late 2026, the announcement continued.
The UH System Office for Information Technology is overseeing the project with support from the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii.
"We are very pleased to be partnering with Ocean Networks, Inc.," Garret Yoshimi, UH vice president for information technology and CIO, said in a statement. "The Ocean Networks team has significant industry experience, specifically working here in Hawaii. Itʻs an honor for UH to play an important role in connecting Hawaii to the future."
"We are delighted to collaborate with the UH and proud that ONI has been selected to build and operate the new HIFL submarine cable system," Cliff Miyake, vice president business development of Ocean Networks, said in a statment. "The HIFL system will provide critical improvement to the broadband infrastructure for the State of Hawaii."
In a separate statement issued after this announcement, U.S. Sen Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee said, "As the most isolated populated place on the planet, we face unique communications challenges and rely on submarine cables to stay connected. Improving our submarine cable infrastructure to ensure Hawaii remains connected to the world and everyone in the state can get reliable, high-speed internet has been a focus of mine, and the federal funding we secured last year and this new agreement will help make that a reality.”
