On track and on time: Hawaiki undersea cable route survey completed

The route survey for the long-awaited Hawaiki cable has now been completed, and details have been revealed about how far production has progressed.

The 14,000 km cable, scheduled for completion in 2018, will link New Zealand and Australia to the United States, Hawaii and American Samoa, as well as other South Pacific islands.

The route survey included details about the kinds of small boat and shallow water work for all landings.

"The information garnered from the recently completed deep water route survey will be instrumental in ensuring the long-term viability of the cable system and we are thrilled with the progress on the cable and repeater manufacturing efforts. Installation will begin later in 2017 and a fully lit system that should positively impact the entire region is soon to follow," says Hawaiki CEO Remi Galasso.

So far more than 4500 km of cable and more than 25 repeaters have been completed at SubCom's manufacturing facility.Production of branching units designed to connect American Samoa, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga has also started.

The cable survey was conducted by TE SubCom. Debra Brask, vice president, project and program management at the company, says the partnership has been productive and on track.

"In addition, permits are secured in Australia and are well underway in other locations. We continue to be on schedule for a mid-2018 completion.

Australian installation permits have already been issues, while landing permits have been filed in New Zealand, Hawaii and Oregon.