6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Near Bougainville Island; Submarine Cables Remain Fully Operational
What Happened
On October 11, 2026, at 17:07:23 local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 occurred. The epicenter was located 79 kilometers southeast of Pangun city on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. This is a seismically active region where frequent seismic events are commonly recorded. Despite the significant strength of the earthquake, the submarine cable infrastructure near the epicenter continued to operate normally.
Cables in Zone
Within a radius of 500 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter, there are two major submarine cables. The first is the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, which spans 5457 kilometers and was put into operation in 2019 by PNG DataCo Limited. This cable passes through an exchange point in Arawa city, just 88 kilometers from the epicenter. The second is the Coral Sea Cable System (CS²), measuring 4700 kilometers long and operational since 2020. It connects Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Australia, passing through a node in Noro town on the Solomon Islands, which is located 214 kilometers from the epicenter.
What Our Measurements Show
According to the monitoring data from GeoCables.com, both submarine cables demonstrated stability and resilience to seismic activity. The average round-trip time (RTT) for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System was 45 ms, while for the Coral Sea Cable System it was 55 ms, which corresponds to baseline metrics before the earthquake. No deviations in throughput or packet losses were recorded. This indicates that the cable infrastructure successfully withstood the natural disaster.
Context and Risks
Submarine cables in the region play a crucial role in providing internet connectivity for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Australia. These cables not only provide local connectivity but also connect to the global network. Seismic activity in this part of the Pacific Ring of Fire poses a constant threat to infrastructure, so the resilience of the cables to such impacts is critical. The successful operation of Kumul and Coral Sea after the earthquake confirms their reliability under heightened seismic activity.
Further Monitoring
We will continue to monitor the status of the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System and Coral Sea Cable System in the coming days to promptly record any possible changes in their operation. Special attention will be paid to nodes in Arawea and Noro, which are closest to the epicenter. We will also keep an eye on seismic activity in the region to assess potential risks for submarine infrastructure.
