The Perseverance DX Group (PDXG) and T31W team have canceled plans to activate Central Kiribati (Kanton Island) in 2017. The DXpedition organizers pointed out that a three-person European team has already activated the rare DXCC entity this year, making some 30,000 contacts. The same group announced its intention to return to T31 in 2017 to finish the job.

"Based on these events, it makes no sense for us to commit personal or donated funds to continue the project," the PDXG said in a news release.

The PDXC/T31W team had announced plans last March to activate T31 next year. "When the news of this recent T31 activation became public, we considered switching to one of two back-up DXCC entities," the PDXC release said. "These alternatives are still under consideration."

The PDXC said the nearly $3,500 already donated to the planned T31W effort would be returned over the next 30 days.