Australian telecommunications giant Telstra, with backing from the federal government, will finalise its purchase of major Pacific mobile network provider Digicel Pacific. In October 2021, the previous Morrison government launched the bid to keep out potential Chinese suitors from gaining control over Digicel’s data network—the largest in the Pacific region. Current Foreign Minister Penny Wong…

Tonga’s Internet connection was restored on Tuesday, five weeks after the Pacific island nation had been cut off from the outside world owing to a massive volcano eruption and tsunami that severed an undersea cable between Tonga and Fiji. Digicel Tonga issued a statement on Tuesday stating that data connectivity was restored in the main…

The Australian government is backing telecommunications giant Telstra to potentially buy out Digicel’s mobile operations in the South Pacific, amid concerns a Chinese-backed company could swoop in and establish a foothold for Beijing to expand its influence. On July 19, Telstra confirmed discussions were underway for a buyout, but there was no certainty around a…