WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao is taking a major step toward securing its digital future with a planned investment of Cg 44.6 million in a new subsea cable system under the CELIA project. The first tranche of Cg 25 million will be paid in 2025.

The project is designed to significantly strengthen the island’s internet resilience at a time when two of Curaçao’s three original submarine cables have already exceeded their economic lifespan, leaving the island highly dependent on a single operational cable. The new link will connect Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and the United States, creating a more secure and future-proof digital backbone.

To fund the first phase of the project, the government is reallocating Cg 29 million from the temporarily suspended Floating Offshore Wind project and the capital service’s contingency reserve. An additional Cg 4 million will be used to reinforce the PCCS backup cable, which remains crucial for maintaining internet access during outages or maintenance.

The Ministry of Finance calls the CELIA project “strategic infrastructure of national importance,” emphasizing that a reliable international internet connection is essential for public services, economic development, and the island’s long-term goal of digital independence.