Submarine cable to boost connectivity

THE Kumul Submarine Cable network will help in improving communication in Vanimo, West Sepik, says town manger Barry Dikomp.
“We have communication problems in Vanimo which is an ongoing issue for us,” he told The National.
“With the laying of the submarine cable starting in Vanimo, we are advised that it has been tested and is live and so it will assist us in terms of communication and performing our day-to-day business.
“It will assist the business houses in terms of putting in their orders and communicating with suppliers.
“So generally, the project will benefit everybody whether in the private or the public sector.”
The submarine cable connection being implemented by DataCo Ltd at Vanimo, is part of a nationwide submarine fibre communications programme called the Kumul domestic cable project.
This is a project to improve the communications capacity across the country and is being undertaken by the Government of PNG.
Vanimo is one of 15 landing stations being commissioned.
The Coral Sea submarine cable system (CS2) is a project that will provide international communications capacity and connection to PNG.
The CS2 project is a 4,700km long fibre optic submarine cable system linking Sydney, Australia, to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Australia is providing the majority funding for this cable, with PNG and Solomon Islands governments jointly contributing up to one third of project costs.
CS2 will increase cable communication capacity into PNG, by up to 1,000 times.
Meanwhile, State Enterprise Minister Sasindran Muthuvel said the kumul submarine cable network as part of the SOE reform programme was a key strategic intervention through economic investment that would stimulate the digital economy.