Cook Islands: Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific Project
The Asian Development Bank is working with the Cook Islands to provide people with low cost and high quality internet service. The project is helping to build a submarine cable connecting the Cook Islands to the internet, and is providing the technical expertise to operate the system.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Bhattacharya, Sibesh
Pacific Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Cook Islands -
Sector
- Information and communication technology
| Project Name | Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific Project | ||||||||
| Project Number | 50110-001 | ||||||||
| Country / Economy | Cook Islands |
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| Project Status | Active | ||||||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant Loan |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Information and communication technology / ICT infrastructure |
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| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | No gender elements | ||||||||
| Description | |||||||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | |||||||||
| Impact | Improved telecommunication in Cook Islands |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Internet service cost reduced and quality improved. |
| Progress Toward Outcome | The Manatua Cable System is now operational. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | The Cook Islands' portion of the Manatua Cable System connecting Samoa and French Polynesia, which includes additional spurs and branching units to connect Aitutaki and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, constructed and commissioned. |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | The cable system was accepted by the consortium in July 2020 COO will make it operational in Q4 2020 |
| Geographical Location | Nation-wide |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | This is the fifth ICT project developed by PARD. Based on similar projects in Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and Palau/FSM during the construction (installation) phase the environmental impacts are expected to be site specific and limited to the route of the cable laying, landing sites, and landward cable routes. Prior to the installation/construction stage, the EMP developed during PPTA will be updated during the marine route survey and detailed design. Any data gaps identified during the PPTA will also be filled at this time. Operation phase impacts will be confined to the land-based cable stations. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project through a submarine internet cable will link the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands to Samoa, where interconnection to the international internet hubs in Fiji and Hawaii will occur. The activities under the proposed project will mostly occur under the deep sea and some activities near the shore. The construction of cable path and landing station in Rarotinga and Aitutaki will be on public or government land to minimize any land acquisition. The project is proposed as Category C with no anticipated involuntary resettlement impacts. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project will build a submarine internet cable to link the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands to Samoa, where interconnection to the international internet hubs in Fiji and Hawaii will occur. The project is not expected to impact any distinct and vulnerable IPs. No indigenous peoples plan is therefore required. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | |
| During Project Implementation | This project is still awaiting Loan effectiveness Two of the 4 conditions for effectiveness have yet to be met (signing of the C&MA and signing of the SLA). The project team is optimistic that this Loan becomes effective in Q4 2018. ADB no objection for the supply and installation of a submarine cable system will be issued. |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Bhattacharya, Sibesh |
| Responsible ADB Department | Pacific Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | PATC |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 07 Jun 2016 |
| Fact Finding | 28 Aug 2017 to 01 Sep 2017 |
| MRM | 03 Oct 2017 |
| Approval | 15 Dec 2017 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 30 Sep 2022 |
Loan 3632-COO
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 15 Dec 2017 | 31 Oct 2018 | 07 Nov 2018 | 30 Sep 2020 | 31 Dec 2023 | - |
| Financing Plan | Loan Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 15.00 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 15.00 | 24 Dec 2022 | 14.80 | 0.00 | 99% |
| Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 0.00 | 24 Dec 2022 | 14.86 | 0.00 | 99% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | - | Satisfactory | - | Partly satisfactory | - | - |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific Project: Environmental Monitoring Report | Environmental Monitoring Reports | Sep 2020 |
| Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific Project: Land Acquisition and Compensation Completion Report | Safeguards Due Diligence Reports | Jun 2020 |
| Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific: Initial Environmental Examination | Environmental Assessment and Measures | Nov 2016 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
Tenders
No tenders for this project were found.
Contracts Awarded
| Contract Title | Approval Number | Contract Date | Contractor | Address | Executing Agency | Total Contract Amount (US$) | Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indefeasible Right of Use | Loan 3632 | 20 Sep 2022 | Hawaiki Submarine Cable Limited Partnership | 125 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand | Ministry of Finance & Economic Management | 2,500,000.00 | 2,500,000.00 |
| SUPPLY & INSTALLATION OF A SUBMARINE CABLE SYSTEM BETWEEN SAMOA & TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNEIA, WITH SPUR S TO NIUE, RAROTONGA, AITUTAKI & BORA BORA | Loan 3632 | 04 Apr 2019 | TESUBCOM, USA (TYCO ELECTRONICS SUBSEA COMMUN | USA UNITED STATES UNITED STATES | Ministry of Finance & Economic Management | 12,865,797.03 | 12,865,797.03 |
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Improving Internet Connectivity for the South Pacific: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Oct 2017 |