Australia pledges commitment to undersea internet cable
Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 11 April 2018
“AUSTRALIA on Tuesday reinforced its commitment to deliver an undersea internet cable for Solomon Islands via the coral seas.
Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government Penny Williams has been dispatched here this week to relay the message.
“The Australian government is taking steps to ensure the project progresses well according to the plan, timeframe, and most importantly the budget attached to different phases of the project,” Ms Williams told a media briefing in Honiara late yesterday.
“The slow internet in Solomon Islands is time consuming and costing the country millions of dollars,” she added.
“This project is important for Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in terms of the economic benefits that will reap through faster and reliable communications on internet.
“Australia is funding the project after an initial deal the government struck with Chinese communications giant Huawei was blocked.
“The Australian government has committed to majority fund the project.
“The project will connect the major islands of the Solomons and PNG with Australia via a 4000-plus kilometer fiber optic cable, replacing each country’s reliance on old, unstable and expensive technologies.”
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