Google said on its official blog, “We will invest $1 billion in strengthening Internet connections with Japan, including the installation of undersea cable proa and Taihei. The submarine cable to be installed this time will provide a new optical fiber communication network between continents under Google’s ‘Japan Digitalization Initiative.’
The latest investment is based on an agreement made with the U.S. government last year. The U.S. government has decided to provide Google with funds to install submarine cables to strengthen network connections between the U.S. mainland and Pacific islands such as Guam, Fiji and French Polynesia.
Submarine cables are responsible for 99% of the world’s data distribution and act as the waist of Internet networks.
As the hegemony conflict between the US and China escalates, competition between the two countries to strengthen their influence in the Pacific region is fierce. This mainly appears in a way of building infrastructure and strengthening military partnerships with third countries.
In particular, the U.S. government sees mobile communication services as a key industry in national security that helps identify information around the world.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a joint statement released after a summit at the White House the day before, “Following the signing of a joint fund agreement for the installation of submarine cables between the United States and Australia in October last year, the United States and Japan also want to provide funds to provide submarine cables to the Pacific region.”
undersea cables play a big role in connecting the world. Problems with undersea cables will cause the world to stop. Conflicts between countries should not occur with undersea cables, and the importance of undersea cables should be recognized.
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
