New cable making net faster

Business

A NEW submarine fibre-optic cable network is already boosting the country’s internet speed, according to a recent economic update by the Oxford Business Group.
It added that information and communication technology capacity in some regions had also improved, with further improvements to come this year through a subsea link to Australia.
The first stage of the Kumul domestic cable – a fibre optic link from Port Moresby to Madang, via Alotau, Popondetta and Lae – was completed on Feb 19.
The project, developed by PNG DataCo and Chinese firm Huawei has resulted in a boost in transmission speeds compared to previous traffic carried on microwave e-radio systems.
The new cable is to connect with two other fibre-optic networks, one linking Jayapura in Indonesia to Arawa via seven coastal cities,
and the other linking Daru to Kerema.
All three stages of the project are expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, according to PNG DataCo.
It said while the coastal cable was already starting to deliver improved services to those areas brought on-line, a more significant increase in capacity was expected later this year when the network ties into another subsea cable being laid from Australia.
The K324 million Coral Sea Cable System is to connect Sydney with Port Moresby and Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.
It is scheduled to come into service late this year.
Upon completion, the cable will provide a technical maximum capacity of 10 terabyte per second, around 1000 times the existing load capability.
“While the Australian government is meeting two thirds of the cost of the project, all revenue will be divided between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, allowing the country to control costs incurred through the development.
“While the completion of the first stage of the Kumul project has brought improvements to the country’s internet service, given the current low level of internet penetration, the benefits may take some time to become apparent.”