|
Paris, April 14, 2011 – Interchange Limited, a Vanuatu based company,
and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) have signed a landmark
agreement to deploy Vanuatu’s first international submarine cable system
linking Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Suva, Fiji. Scheduled for completion in mid
2012, this new system will deliver faster, more efficient and cost-effective
Internet connectivity to the pacific island nation, while removing the current
dependence on satellite and strengthening Vanuatu’s competitive position as an
e-business hub.
Interchange will construct, own, and operate the 1230 kilometre submarine
cable system, which will link directly into the high capacity Southern Cross
Cable between Sydney and Hawaii enabling Vanuatu businesses to connect to
global telecommunications highway via USA, Australia, Asia and Europe.
Initially equipped for 20 Gbit/s data transfer, which is over 200 times
Vanuatu’s current capacity, the new submarine cable system is designed with an
ultimate capacity of up to 320 Gbit/s to support the continued growth of
Vanuatu’s e-business economy well into the future. Its deployment will increase
internet speeds for new and existing Internet Service Providers and deliver the
lower cost capacity that Vanuatu needs to encourage economic growth and support
its burgeoning tourist industry.
Interchange CEO, Simon Fletcher said: “This submarine cable will open
new growth opportunities for the local economy. Vanuatu’s current satellite
connectivity is relatively expensive, with high latency and is capacity
constrained. Interchange believes telecommunications infrastructure, via
submarine cable systems, is the most cost effective and reliable means to bring
high bandwidth capacity and technologies to Vanuatu facilitating growth in
tourism and other industries.“
“Projects like Vanuatu are further proof of the need for connectivity to
extend high-speed communications in area that are still unserved or currently
depending on satellite connections,” said Philippe Dumont, President of
Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks SAS. “Submarine cable networks provide a
cost-effective and direct operational way to accelerate penetration of
broadband access, while prepare for reliably supporting new applications such
as data centre interconnections over time.”
At a cost of USD $30 million, the submarine cable project is largely funded
by the private sector. However the Government of Vanuatu has shown strong
support for telecommunications infrastructure project with Vanuatu Post coming
forward as a seed investor in Interchange Limited. The Vanuatu Government has
also committed to the pre-purchase of capacity to enhance the utility of the
e-government network by extending it internationally.
Vanuatu will now join Fiji, PNG, Samoa, American Samoa, New Caledonia
and French Polynesia as smaller South Pacific Island countries which have a
submarine cable.
Interchange Limited has secured an option with ASN for the extension of the
system from Vanuatu to Noumea. This extension would enable connectivity for New
Caledonia to Fiji as well providing Vanuatu with diverse cable outlets. The
option can afford the benefit of an integrated solution reducing the cost
compared to a separate standalone implementation. Such an extension would
further enhance the network security for both New Caledonia and Vanuatu. This
greater certainty of continued operation will equip Vanuatu to exploit its
position as a pivotal location for e-business and data centres in the Pacific.
Additionally the extension cable can run in close proximity to Tanna offering
the potential for a cable connection between Vila and Tanna.
About Interchange Limited
Interchange Limited (“Interchange”), a company incorporated in Vanuatu, has
been established to facilitate the opportunity to deliver fast growing global
connectivity market in the telecommunications industry. The company proposes to
build, own and operate a “state-of-the-art” submarine optical fiber cable
carrying telecommunications traffic connecting Vanuatu to the global
“information highway”.
|
