The Samoa Submarine Cable Company (SSCC) is the key Samoan entity responsible for fiber optic submarine cable infrastructure, including the Tui-Samoa cable connecting Samoa to Fiji.

Overview

The Samoa Submarine Cable Company Limited (SSCC) is a registered Samoan company established in 2015 by the Government of Samoa and six founding shareholders, including Samoa National Provident Fund, Unit Trust of Samoa, Samoa Life Assurance Corporation, Bluesky Samoa Ltd, Computer Services Ltd, and Digicel Samoa Ltd . Its core mission is to provide fast, reliable, and affordable internet services by operating submarine fiber optic cables and supplying wholesale capacity to telecommunications operators rather than end-users .

Key Projects

• Tui-Samoa Submarine Cable: A 1,470 km fiber optic cable connecting Apia and Tuasivi in Samoa to Suva, Fiji, with branches to Savusavu, Wallis, and Futuna. The system has two fiber pairs and a capacity of 16 Tbit/s using 100 Gbit/s transmission technology . The project cost approximately US$57 million, with US$25 million funded by the Asian Development Bank .
• Manatua Consortium Cable: SSCC is a founding partner in this regional submarine cable linking Tahiti to Samoa, with branches to Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Niue, expanding regional connectivity .
• Submarine Cable Depot in Apia: Built in partnership with TE SubCom, this facility supports maintenance and installation of over 19 cable systems in the South Pacific, totaling more than 69,000 km of telecommunications and power cables .

Partnerships and Technology

SSCC collaborates with TE SubCom, a global leader in undersea communications technology, which designs, manufactures, deploys, and maintains fiber optic cable systems worldwide . TE SubCom's involvement ensures that SSCC's infrastructure meets international standards for reliability and scalability.

Business Model and Impact

SSCC operates a Cooperative Sustainable Wholesale Model (CSWM), focusing on delivering the lowest unit cost per Mbps to the market while promoting ICT innovation and economic growth in Samoa . The company also provides cable landing party services for other regional and trans-Pacific international cable systems, ensuring open access and non-discriminatory operations .

Regional Significance

By establishing robust fiber optic connectivity, SSCC has significantly improved Samoa's international broadband access, bridging the digital divide and enabling services such as e-health, education, and business development . Its infrastructure supports both national and regional telecommunications growth, making Samoa a key hub in the South Pacific for submarine cable operations.