On Jan. 25, the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and telecom development and service company Ocean Networks, Inc. (ONI) announced a $120 million partnership to construct the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) submarine optical fiber cable system. Connecting the Hawaiian Islands and improving and expanding high-speed broadband internet throughout the state, the HIFL is a component of the state’s broadband initiative, Connect Kākou, which aims to widen the availability of reliable and affordable access to high-speed internet.
Hawai’i’s Governor, Josh Green, said in a press release, “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. The resulting network will be open to all carriers and sufficiently 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.”
Funding for the project will be partially provided through a federal grant, with the remaining funding to be secured by ONI. ONI will also take on the supply, construction, operations, and maintenance of the cable system.
Cliff Miyake, vice president of business development at Ocean Networks, Inc., said in the same press release, “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. The HIFL system will provide critical improvement to the broadband infrastructure for the State of Hawaiʻi.”
UH reports that the carrier-neutral, open-access system will have 24 fiber pairs with a design life of 25 years, landing sites on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi, and will be ready for service in late 2026.
UH vice president of information technology and CIO Garret Yoshimi said in the release, “We are very pleased to be partnering with Ocean Networks, Inc. The Ocean Networks team has significant industry experience, specifically working here in Hawaiʻi. It’s an honor for UH to play an important role in connecting Hawaiʻi to the future.”
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