Page 18 - IB FEB 2019

Telecommunication

Southern Cross Cable
connections from Fiji:

• Samoa

• American Samoa

• Tonga
• Vanuatu

SX Next Cable connections:

• New Zealand

• USA
• Samoa

• Kiribati

• Tokelau

has the potential to provide Fiji and other
Pacific islands with a backup option for
telecommunications access, improving the
resilience of regional mobile and internet
providers and the many businesses that
rely on them across the region.
“The Pacific island sub-sea cable sys-
tems for Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga land
at [FINTeL’s communications centre in]
Vatuwaqa and they could provide further
backup in the near future, once they are
connected to a second international sub-
sea cable system,” Samisoni said.
The importance of backup systems was
demonstrated in January when Tonga was
plunged into virtual darkness when a
Cable ship like this one helps in laying submarine cabel systems in the Pacific. Photo: TE SubCom sub-sea cable was damaged. The incident
forced Tonga to rely on satellite internet
FINTEL plans for faster for very limited service for two weeks.
“The Pacific Islands Telecommunica-
tion Association (PITA) is also taking an
internet, more bandwidth active role in seeing back-up systems are
available for the Pacific Island countries,”
Deal inked with SX NEXT Samisoni said.
He said they are working with Southern
Cross Cable, the Maritime Safety Author-
By Peni Komaisavai ity of Fiji (MSAF) and other government
The new sub-sea cable network will agencies to update and monitor the no-
Fiji International Telecommunications connect Tokelau, kiribati, Australia, New anchor zone, as well as implementing
Limited (FINTeL) has signed up with sub- Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and the united States international sub-sea cable system laws,
sea cable system Southern Cross Next (SX of America. with their associated heavy penalties for
Next) to improve bandwidth availability Samisoni says the initiative will cost transgressions.
and speed for Pacific island Internet users. FINTeL between uSD$30-40 million. FINTeL also has contingency plans in
FINTeL CeO George Samisoni told Is- Meanwhile FINTeL is negotiating with place to cater for any cable cutting inci-
lands Business that the service will land another sub-sea cable system, Hawaiki, dents in the future.
in Fiji’s capital Suva, and Savusavu in the which landed in Fiji waters in June 2018.
country’s north by early 2021. The New Zealand-headquartered service benjokomaisavai@gmail.com

18 Islands Business, February 2019