Company background

About Avaroa Cables Limited

Koai matou

ACL is the Cook Islands international fibre operator, providing wholesale connectivity services and managing the country’s involvement in the Manatua Cable project.

Introduction · Tuatua ‘akatu’era

From the Chairperson

Richard Williams, ACL Chairperson
Richard Williams, Chairperson.

The telecommunications landscape in the Cook Islands is rapidly transforming, driven in part by advancements in satellite technology that are enhancing international connectivity and introducing new system capabilities. These developments signal a new era of opportunity; one that demands agility, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to service quality.

In response, ACL continues to evolve alongside the market. We remain focused on delivering against our vision: “Better internet, stronger communities, a thriving Cook Islands.” Whether through strengthening terrestrial infrastructure or embracing emerging technologies, ACL is positioned to lead this transformation with purpose and resilience.

Since going live in 2020, the Manatua Cable has maintained 100% operational availability; an outcome that reflects ACL’s resolute commitment to excellence in engineering, maintenance, and service delivery. As the digital landscape across the Cook Islands continues to evolve with increasing demand for always-on connectivity, secure data transmission, and greater local capacity, ACL remains focused on delivering unmatched network reliability and enhancing system resilience.

Our approach spans rigorous preventative maintenance, continual process optimisation, and active collaboration with our partner nations in the Manatua Consortium to safeguard this shared asset. In this new market context, where connectivity underpins critical economic, educational, and public services, ACL is doubling down on its role as a trusted infrastructure partner ensuring the Manatua Cable continues to power progress for the region.

Vodafone Cook Islands and ACL continue to strengthen our partnership and recently extended our multi-year agreement to significantly expand our wholesale supply arrangements. This strategic milestone reinforces our long-term collaboration and enables Vodafone to deliver an even broader range of high-quality, high-capacity and differentiated connectivity solutions to customers across the Cook Islands.

The ACL team continues to adapt to evolving market dynamics to safeguard the long-term sustainability of our nation’s critical infrastructure through continuous optimisation and strategic refinement. At the governance level, the Board remains focused on strengthening oversight and identifying opportunities to bolster the resilience of the Manatua cable system.

In close collaboration with key stakeholders including our parent company, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, ACL is committed to enhancing utilisation of the system to drive positive economic outcomes and create lasting benefits for the people of the Cook Islands.

Kia Manuia,
Richard Williams — ACL Chairperson

The asset

The Manatua — One Polynesia Cable

The Manatua Cable is a 3,600km long, two fibre pair submarine system connecting Apia in Samoa, Niue, Rarotonga and Aitutaki, Bora Bora and Tahiti. It was deployed in 2019 and is capable of operating at up to 10 terabits per second — 10,000,000 megabits per second — on each fibre pair.

Using state-of-the-art fibre optical communications technology, that is enough speed to download 300 high-definition movies every single second. The cable was ready for service in July 2020.

Map of the Manatua cable system route: Apia in Samoa, south to Sekena in Niue, east to Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, and on to Vaitape in Bora Bora and To’ahotu in Tahiti
The Manatua Cable system route.

The ACL story so far

Tē tua tāpapa ō tē ACL

The Manatua Cable project started before the formation of ACL with the collective efforts of several government agencies, including the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Office of the Prime Minister. Ongoing support has been provided to ACL from these agencies, particularly from the Development Coordination Division of MFEM.

For ACL, 2017 and 2018 saw a focus on putting in place the international agreements between the partner countries, confirming the funding for ACL’s participation in the Manatua Consortium, and participating in the core procurement and contracting exercise which resulted in the selection of US company SubCom LLC as the turn-key supplier.

Each of the Manatua Consortium parties has been responsible for constructing its own Cable Landing Stations. For ACL this meant one each in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, ready for system-wide testing in February 2020 following intensive work on procurement, construction, terrestrial cable laying, public consultation, environmental impact assessments, and negotiation with landowners.

The subsea cable system was provisionally accepted in July 2020 and fully operational and in commercial use in September 2020 with onward connectivity in place.

Since 2020, ACL has recruited Engineers and Finance Management along with a part-time technical support consultant in Aitutaki. The small team supports its function as a cable operator and wholesale service provider.

The focus for Q3 2025 – Q1 2026 was to restructure ACL to optimise operating costs and improve operational efficiency, while maintaining service quality and long-term viability. This has been achieved, and we have identified and implemented the most appropriate operating model for ACL. In parallel, we have focused on securing further onward connectivity from Manatua to mainland Australia to further reduce costs and add resilience to our network.

Milestones · Te au angaanga ta matou i rave

Our milestones

2016
  • Negotiations between the four governments to construct the Manatua Cable
2017
  • Avaroa Cables Ltd formed
  • Manatua Cable International Treaty signed
2018
  • ADB loan funding awarded
  • New Zealand aid funding awarded
  • Manatua Construction and Maintenance Agreement signed
2019
  • Cable manufacture completed and cable laying commences
  • Cable lands in Aitutaki
  • Cable lands in Rarotonga
2020
  • ACL receives its operating licence from the regulator
  • Manatua cable system becomes operational, supplying connectivity to Rarotonga and Aitutaki
  • ACL named 2020 winner for the Biggest Broadband Social Impact
2021
  • Cable landing infrastructure at Rarotonga and Aitutaki designed and construction started
  • Cable landing station infrastructure completed at Rarotonga and Aitutaki
2022
  • Official opening of cable landing stations
  • Western route via Manatua and Hawaiki to Sydney activated
2024
  • New competitive pricing to VFCI
  • Supported VakaNet’s entry into the market
2025
  • Restructure completed
2026
  • Addressed the remediation of the corroded AP
  • 2nd route to Sydney via TUI

Values · Au rito’anga

How we do it

‘Akapē’ea mātou ī tē rave’anga

Tu Meitaki Tikae

Excellence

  • We set and follow high standards
  • We do things right the first time
  • We focus on quality and reliability

Tu Oa’oa

Relationships

  • We will work in an open and collaborative manner
  • We will build strong and lasting relationships

Tu manako ora

Innovation

  • We will keep learning and be adaptable, always open to new ideas
  • We will add value through innovative processes and the smart use of technology
  • We will foster a progressive, open, and creative work environment

Tu Irinakiia

Integrity

  • We have a strong sense of right and wrong and will always act ethically
  • We will always do the right thing for our customers and the Cook Islands people

Ākara kī tē ara roa, kia pā kī te rangi

Think long term, think big

  • We think about the long term in a constantly evolving industry — the Manatua Cable is a 25 year investment
  • We make decisions for the Cook Islands people, striving to make a positive impact today
  • Living our values will be achieved by investing in our people through recruiting and developing Cook Islands talent
  • ACL will invest in the training and professional development of its engineers, managers, and leaders who will uphold the values and implement the strategies
  • How we behave and work with each other and in the community is important in delivering our purpose and mission

Corporate social responsibility

A positive impact on people and place

ACL aims to have a positive impact on people, society and the world around us. We will actively contribute to the Cook Islands community. As part of our commitment, we currently support the Education sector with free capacity on the Manatua Cable.

Alignment with the Cook Islands national vision

In 2007 the Cook Islands launched the country’s 2020 visionary framework, Te Kaveinga Nui. This document articulated the national vision and the development outcomes desired by the Cook Islands people. The framework has undergone a number of refinements since, culminating in the adoption of the National Sustainable Development Agenda 2020+ in December 2021.

The NSDA2020+ is the national blueprint towards a 100 year vision to achieve Turanga Meitaki, or wellbeing. ACL’s purpose and mission will assist in achieving specific outcomes under Goal 6: Connecting our Nation through Infrastructure, Transport and ICT — specifically Indicators 6.1 Connectivity Index and 6.5 National Infrastructure completed and maintained.

NSDA 2020+ Goal 6

Connecting our nation through infrastructure, transport and ICT

Contributing to Turanga Meitaki

Quality ICT infrastructure, internet and telecommunications services are key to the functioning of a progressive and modern nation. ACL’s work contributes by:

  • Providing access to information and learning
  • Helping deliver services in new ways
  • Operating infrastructure using smart technology
  • Reducing carbon intensive travel through high fidelity conferencing and collaboration
  • Diversifying and increasing productivity of the economy
  • Better linking Cook Islanders at home and overseas with each other and the world
  • Supporting the CI Government digital transformation and ICT development aims
  • Supporting the CI Government initiative to improve local cybersecurity robustness

Alignment with Cook Islands Investment Corporation

ACL’s vision and mission align with, and contribute to, that of CIIC:

Tau meitaki no te akakoro’anga, akatuke atu i te au apinga no te katoatoa te ka oronga mai, tauturu mate akameitaki atu i te turanga ora’anga o te iti-tangata Kuki Airani

“Fit for purpose, transformational public assets that deliver, serve and improve the wellbeing of the Cook Islands people, in harmony with our culture and environment.”

ACL will continue to work closely with the State-Owned Entities and Crown Corporate Entities across the CIIC Group as appropriate, and is an active member of the CIIC Group CEO Forum.