Vodafone Cook Islands partners with Rivada to transform connectivity in Oceania
By tackling the challenges of geographic isolation and enhancing digital accessibility, this initiative is set to bridge the digital divide, uplift remote areas, and encourage sustainable economic progress.

Vodafone Cook Islands and Rivada have partnered to enhance telecommunications connectivity and drive digital transformation across the Oceania region. The collaboration addresses the challenges posed by the geographic isolation of the Cook Islands and other territories in Oceania. By utilising Rivada’s next-generation low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, the Outernet, Vodafone intends to offer scalable, resilient connectivity for enterprises and government clients.
The Outernet’s innovative design combines inter-satellite laser links and advanced onboard processing to provide gigabit-speed connectivity globally, bypassing public internet and third-party infrastructure. This optical mesh network ensures secure, fast, and low-latency connections, delivering urban-centre-quality connectivity to remote regions, including the Pacific islands.
In a time when geopolitical tensions threaten subsea cables in Asia, the partnership will create a more reliable and secure telecommunications infrastructure for the region. The benefits of this partnership are expected to be far-reaching, particularly for remote communities and the outer islands of the Cook Islands.
The enhanced connectivity will support critical sectors like online education, healthcare, and business, driving technological innovation and economic growth. Phillip Henderson, CEO of Vodafone Cook Islands, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasising how the Outernet will empower remote communities, providing them access to previously challenging services.
The partnership is poised to transform connectivity in the region, helping to bridge the digital divide and foster long-term economic development.