PORT VILA, VANUATU (18 February 2026) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a financing package with Prima Limited to develop the 411-kilometer Tamtam submarine cable connecting Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Lifou, New Caledonia. The project aims to enhance telecommunications services across Vanuatu and strengthen natural hazard early warning systems through advanced sensor technology.
ADB President Masato Kanda highlighted that the Tamtam project is a milestone as ADB’s first transaction under its Wayfinder Program, which combines technical assistance, loans, and private sector support to de-risk projects and attract investment in the Pacific. The financing package includes a $4.5 million loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and a reimbursable grant of up to $1.9 million from the bank’s private sector window.
The Tamtam cable will complement Vanuatu’s existing submarine fiber-optic connection with Fiji, ensuring uninterrupted telecommunications during outages. Scheduled for completion in December 2027, the project will generate local employment and support capacity building for female students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The cable will feature Science Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) technology, making it the first in the Pacific to do so. SMART sensors will provide real-time environmental monitoring and early warning data on ocean temperatures, sea levels, and other climate-relevant measurements, which will be freely accessible to scientists and civil protection authorities in Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Prima Limited, incorporated in 2015, brings local experience from operating Vanuatu’s first submarine cable, the Interchange Cable Network 1. The collaboration with ADB is part of the bank’s broader efforts to support inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific, using innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to improve infrastructure, create jobs, and address climate and development challenges.
