Network to rollout next year

By DALE LUMA
PAPUA New Guinea (PNG)’s National Transmission Network (NTN) programme, aimed at growing and transforming the country’s digital economy, is heading for commercial rollout next March.
The 4G Long Term-Term Evolution platform or network is being constructed simultaneously under two projects – the Coral Sea Cable (CS2) and the Kumul Submarine Cable Network (KSCN).
The K324 million CS2 connects Port Moresby to Sydney and is funded by the Australian government.
The K661 million KSCN, developed by DatoCo with Huawei, is the domestic fibre optic cable that will link 13 cities and provinces in PNG and also Indonesia’s Jayapura.
A PNG DataCo (Kumul Telikom Holdings’ internet wholesale arm) spokesman told The National: “By next month, we will connect Daru and Kerema.
“By the end of this year or beginning next year, we will connect Vanimo to Madang and then proceed to link the island provinces such as East and West New Britain, Manus, New Ireland and also the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
“Both CS2 and KSCN are on track to be completed for testing. Upon completion of the tests, the digital network would be ready for live and commercial rollout by March next year.”