Hawaiki is the 14,000km transpacific cable system scheduled for completion in mid-2018, running between the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The system was co-developed by New Zealand entrepreneurs Sir Eion Edgar, Malcolm Dick and Mr Galasso.
``We've seen tremendous progress with Hawaiki in the past several months, with each step bringing us closer to a completed working system,'' Mr Galasso said yesterday.
``We remain on time and on budget and trust that, in conjunction with TE SubCom, Hawaiki will be fully lit by mid-2018, bringing competition and diversity to the market and vital connectivity to the region.''
The manufacturing stage of Hawaiki was moving forward as planned and overall progress was going to gain momentum from now on, TE SubCom president Aaron Stucki said.
So far, more than 1000km of lightweight cable had been manufactured for Hawaiki at TE SubCom's facility in Newington, New Hampshire, United States.
Manufacturing of Hawaiki repeaters was under way and detailed landing surveys had been completed for sites in Pacific City, Oregon, and Kapolei, Hawaii.
The deep sea survey had been completed from Oregon to Hawaii and had covered all the US exclusive economic zone with the completion of the branch to American Samoa.
Mr Galasso said progress through the South Pacific Islands was continuing. Hawaiki had added three branching units to enable the future connection of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.
