Interchange Limited has completed installing a submarine fibre optic network (ICN1) connecting Port Vila (Vanuatu) to the Southern Cross Cable Network at Suva (Fiji) - a $30 million project involving French telecommunication corporation Alcatel - Lucent to deploy Vanuatu's first international submarine cable system. .
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| Laying of the Submarine Fibre Optic Netwrok (ICN1) off the shores of Efate, Port Vila - Mele Bay Beach Man hole to the Prime Cable Landing Station (CLS) facility |
Now up to this point, what becomes of Vanuatu in-terms of ICTs developments? Interchange Limited's Simon Fletcher reaffirms that a pro-investment government, stable economy, warm friendly people, great climate and favorable taxation structure for business all combine to complete a compelling picture. This shows how ICTs development goes a little long way to materialize, it takes on a socio-economical perspective and political will to see change happen.
Furthermore, there has been talks of connecting Solomon Islands to the Southern Cross Network Cable via a Vanuatu - Solomon (VU-SI) project. Reaffirming its commitment to a better future for Melanesia, Alcatel has completed a commissioned Desktop Study for the second leg of the Interchange Cable Network linking Port Vila, Vanuatu to Honiara, Solomon Islands with a spur to Luganville, Espiritu Santo (Sanma Province)
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| Installation of ICN is completed connecting Vanuatu to the SCCN - the dotted yellow line shows the next phase of the Interchange Cable Network expected to be completed by December 2014 |
Individuals, Farmers, Enterprises and Commercial entities in Sanma Province will immensely benefit from this significant boost in ICT development. Interchange predicted that with such superior infrastructure it will almost impact all sectors of Vanuatu society; including much faster download speeds for domestic internet users, and the enhanced capacity will underpin rapid developments in areas such as e-healthcare, education, business, commerce and industry, tourism, agri-tourism and agriculture and Government communications and so forth.
It seems fair to argue that farmers will definitely reap benefits from such a radical change that will impact lives right down at the community level. Market information, communication pathways and reliable data for both end users at the end of a value-chain of a particular commodity is validated, contributing to competitive, balanced and sustainable markets.
“This will be a quantum leap forward in terms of our technical ability to meet the needs of the fast growing ICT sector. It’s also the dawn of a new era for Vanuatu” Simon Fletcher. CEO Interchange.
(Source: www.interchange.vu)
