wiredinUSA February 2014

INDEX

Pacific link

and all the time is a critical demand whether it comes from video entertainment, cloud-based business applications or access to more basic health care applications from remote areas. With the help of Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine technology, this new undersea cable system further helps remove the current dependence on satellite and further encourage the introduction of new services and applications affordably available to everyone. Interchange is committed to abetter future for Melanesiaby offering nation-building telecommunications technologies and infrastructure to communities throughout the entire region.” The new systemwill complement the 1,259km Vanuatu to Fiji undersea cable system, which was due tobecomeavailableduring January 2014.

InterchangeLtd,aVanuatu-basedcompany, is expanding its undersea infrastructure with a new 3,000km cable system to link the Pacific islands of Vanuatu, the Solomons and Papua New Guinea. The new system will deliver ultra-broadband access capability. The new system will connect Port Vila, Vanuatu, toPortMoresby, PNG,withbranches to Luganville, Vanuatu, and Honiara in the Solomon Islands. Initially operating at 40Gbit/s but with an ultimate design capacity of 1.2Tbit/s, the system will increase Internet speeds for new and existing service providers to support the deployment of applications for healthcare, education, government communications and tourism while further strengtheningVanuatu’s competitiveposition as an e-business hub. Simon Fletcher, CEO of Interchange, said: “Fast and easy connections to everything

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - February 2014

33