TelecommunicationExclusive: Government aims to boost domestic competitiveness, economic securityTuvalu's first undersea cable, laid with support from Japan, the U.S., Australia and others, landed in December 2024. (Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry)HATSUKI SATOAugust 25, 2026 06:43 JSTTOKYO -- Japan will propose budgeting around 100 billion yen ($628 million) to help domestic companies procure ships that can lay undersea cables as costs soar and Chinese competition rises, Nikkei has learned.