Google announced Wednesday that it will invest $1 billion in two undersea cables to create new routes between the United States and Japan.
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The submarine cables are called Proa and Taihei, and both will be built by Japanese technology giant NEC Corp.
The route planned for Proa crosses Japan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and then on to Guam. Google's already in-use Taiwan-Philippines-US (TPU) cable system is also getting an extension to the CNMI. The TPU is also built by NEC and current plans call for it to connect Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and the United States. It is estimated to be ready for operation in May 2025.
"As CNMI's first international submarine cables, Proa and TPU will together establish a new route between the continental United States and Shima, Japan," CNMI said.
