A US$100 Million US Army project to link a fibre optic cable to its base in the Marshall Islands is set to transform telecommunications in the Marshall Islands and the neighbouring Federated States of Micronesia.
The US Army is laying the cable from Guam to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.
Kwajalein is home to the Reagan Test site - a key part of the US missile defence system.
The cable will enable the military to monitor the site in real time from the US mainland.
Our correspondent Giff Johnson says the decision by the Marshall Island Government to commit $18 Million US dollars to the project will provide the country with true broadband internet for the first time.
"This fibre optic cable will exponentially increase the communications budget of the Marshall Islands. It just offers huge possible benefits."
Giff Johnson says those benefits include the ability of local doctors to interact with with medical experts in other countries in real time.
