Japan, the United States and Australia plan to jointly create an undersea cable to boost internet access in Pacific island nations with the aim of countering growing Chinese influence in the region.
The three countries will pour a total of around 95 million dollars (13 billion yen) into the project. Japan's NEC Corp. will play a leading role in the undertaking, which is expected to be completed by around 2025.
The approximately 2,250-kilometer subsea fiber-optic cable will connect Micronesia, Nauru and Kiribati.
