Service notice Manatua Cable fault — coordinated restoration response

Media statement · Rarotonga, Cook Islands · 5 August 2026

ACL confirms Manatua Cable fault and coordinated restoration response

Avaroa Cable Limited (ACL) confirms that a technical fault is currently affecting the Manatua submarine cable and international connectivity services to the Cook Islands.

The Manatua Cable is a 3,600-kilometre submarine fibre-optic cable connecting Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. The cable is jointly managed through the Manatua Consortium, whose members are working together to coordinate the technical response and restore the cable.

On 11 June 2026, the cable experienced a brief, unplanned service interruption lasting approximately 30 seconds. Following operational and technical investigations, the estimated location of the fault was isolated to an area approximately 140–147 kilometres off the coast of Samoa, at or near one of the cable’s powered repeaters.

Despite the identified fault, the cable remained operational through an alternative powering arrangement from French Polynesia. This known shunt fault was identified by the Manatua Consortium, with activities to repair the fault planned for August. However, at approximately 4.02 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, the fault developed further and affected the operation of the cable.

Since the outage occurred, ACL has remained in direct contact with Vodafone Cook Islands and VakaNet, providing technical updates to support their contingency arrangements and communications with customers.

ACL is working with its regional partner to support alternative connectivity arrangements, and have secured connectivity through French Polynesia through Manatua East. This connection will be utilised until the repair process is undertaken. Once complete, traffic through Samoa will recommence.

The Manatua Consortium’s technical teams are coordinating the repair response and reviewing the planned repair programme in light of the current fault. This includes confirming the condition of the affected section, coordinating the specialist technical and marine resources required, and completing the necessary testing before the cable is returned to normal operation.

Restoring the Manatua Cable is our highest priority. We recognise how important reliable international connectivity is to our customers, communities, businesses and essential services.

We are working closely with our customers and Manatua Consortium partners to reinstate this important piece of regional infrastructure as quickly and safely as possible.

ACL will continue to provide updates directly to its customers Vodafone Cook Islands and VakaNet as the restoration response progresses.

ENDS

Better internet, stronger communities, a thriving Cook Islands

Te au akanoonoo’anga no te mānakonako’anga o te taokotai’anga

Read our strategy About ACL
3,600km
Manatua cable length
100%
Operational availability since 2020
10Tb/s
Capacity per fibre pair
4
Nations in the consortium

Avaroa Cables Ltd

The Cook Islands international fibre operator

ACL provides wholesale connectivity services in the Cook Islands. We are a Crown Corporate Entity of the Cook Islands Government, and we manage the country’s involvement in the Manatua Cable project along with its commercialisation as an international and domestic wholesale connectivity operator.

ACL was established by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), the government body responsible for SOEs and CCEs. CIIC also appoints the independent board that oversees ACL. Our establishment was funded by the Cook Islands Government, the New Zealand Aid Programme, and the Asian Development Bank.

More about ACL
The Manatua One Polynesia Cable arriving at Rutaki village, Rarotonga
The arrival of the Manatua One Polynesia Cable at Rutaki village, Rarotonga, January 2020.

Mission · Anoano

Operate · Maximise · Contribute

Tā’anga’anga · ‘Akama’ata · Tautura

To deliver on our purpose, ACL will operate the Manatua One Polynesia cable sustainably for the benefit of the Cook Islands, manage it so as to maximise usage, and contribute to the telecommunications operating model and policy of the Cook Islands.

Operate

Run the cable sustainably for the benefit of the Cook Islands — high quality, efficient, reliable, and affordable service.

Focus areas

  • Operational resilience
  • Business optimisation
Maximise

Manage the cable in such a way as to maximise the usage of the system.

Focus areas

  • International business opportunities
  • Local business opportunities
Contribute

Contribute to the telecommunications operating model and policy of the Cook Islands, to maximise the socio-economic benefits the cable presents.

Focus areas

  • Acting as an enabler and collaborator
Richard Williams, ACL Chairperson
Richard Williams, Chairperson.

Introduction · Tuatua ‘akatu’era

The telecommunications landscape in the Cook Islands is rapidly transforming. These developments signal a new era of opportunity — one that demands agility, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to service quality.

Since going live in 2020, the Manatua Cable has maintained 100% operational availability. As demand grows for always-on connectivity, secure data transmission, and greater local capacity, ACL remains focused on network reliability and system resilience.

Richard Williams — ACL Chairperson

Read the full introduction