Hawaiian Telcom Selects IT for Kunoa North Cable

Why It Matters

The cable boosts network resilience and gigabit access for underserved Hawaiian communities, accelerating the state’s digital‑equity goals and economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• Kunoa North adds northern subsea fiber route.
• $87M project funded $37M NTIA grant.
• Improves inter‑island redundancy, reducing service disruptions.
• Supports Hawaii's Connect Kākou digital equity initiative.
• Part of $1.7B plan for statewide fiber by 2026.

Pulse Analysis

Hawaii’s archipelagic layout makes subsea fiber the backbone of reliable broadband. Existing southern routes have delivered island‑to‑island connectivity, yet many rural and remote areas still experience limited speeds. State policymakers responded with the Connect Kākou program, a digital‑equity push that seeks to bring affordable, high‑speed internet to every corner of the islands. By prioritizing resilient infrastructure, Hawaii aims to attract tech‑driven businesses and improve education and tele‑health services across its dispersed population.

The Kunoa North project, awarded to IT International Telecom, introduces a high‑capacity, low‑latency, repeaterless cable that will run along the northern islands. With an $87 million budget—$37 million from the NTIA and $50 million from Hawaiian Telcom—the turnkey contract covers engineering design, marine surveys, cable manufacturing, and installation, targeting a 2028 finish. The new northern strand complements the existing southern fiber, creating a mesh network that can reroute traffic during outages, thereby minimizing downtime for residential and commercial users alike.

Beyond immediate connectivity gains, the initiative signals a broader shift toward a fully fiber‑enabled Hawaii by the end of 2026, a milestone that could reshape the state’s economic landscape. Robust, island‑wide fiber lowers barriers for cloud‑based enterprises, supports remote work, and enhances the tourism sector’s digital services. Federal backing via the NTIA underscores the strategic importance of resilient broadband in remote regions, while the partnership with an experienced subsea specialist like IT ensures the project meets global standards for reliability and cost‑effectiveness.