PNG DataCo Limited is proud to announce that the Kumul Submarine Cable Network (KSCN) has landed in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) on Monday May 18. This marks a historical journey for the cable and concludes the roll out for KSCN System 1.
On a low key note, the landing in Arawa was witnessed by PNG DataCo Limited representatives and Arawa Town Mayor Augustine Barkson and Deputy Mayor Genevieve Korokoro. Both Mr Barkson and Ms Korokoro have been instrumental in the AROB part of the project. They say there is a sense of interest shown by the public towards the arrival of the cable and its benefits.
“We are fortunate to have this infrastructure and we will continue to educate our people about the opportunities the infrastructure will bring,” Ms Korokoro said.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is the last province for the fibre optic cable to land and connect all New Guinea Islands. Since February, PNG DataCo Limited with its partners; Optic Marine Services and sub-contractors have been building the submarine cable from Jayapura into Vanimo, Wewak, Lorengau, Madang, Kimbe, Kavieng, Kokopo and on Monday 18th May, the cable reached the autonomous region. The cable extends over 5,457 kilometres of internet cable network connecting the New Guinea Islands and has seven branching units and data centres in all provincial capitals.
The domestic internet platform will link up provinces and connect through Jayapura in Indonesia, furthermore through international internet gateway.
“This important infrastructure will now provide abundance of information throughout PNG which will link all our islands provinces to the mainland and central agencies in Port Moresby. This means that sectors such as education, health, transport, civil register, justice, law and order, commerce and industry, finance, agriculture, and tourism will now sue cloud computing to proper their growth. It will reduce cost, time and improve quality and reliability of services in both the private and public sectors for our social economic growth. Our country can now consolidate its efforts in meeting our challengers in a collective and collaborative manner more effectively and efficiently,” said Mr Komboi, PNG DataCo Limited CEO.
Describing the journey of the KSCN as historical one, PNG DataCo Limited CEO Paul Komboi expressed satisfaction over the completion of the KSCN, stating that KSCN system 1 is on track and has now completed according to schedule which is this month (May), 2020.
“I am immensely thankful for those that have shared their work and expertise in building and constructing this massive project namely; Optic Marine Services, the crew and captain of French Vessel Ile De Re and our sub-contractors. It has been a tireless but rewarding journey for us all, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Komboi said.
“I want to also thank all provinces that have received the cable as it travels through eight provinces. This infrastructure is for everyone.”
Like all other provinces linked by the network, PNG DataCo will work with the AROB Government to ensure the province gets full benefit of the infrastructure.
Mr Komboi added that the landing covers the entire province with distributions covering smaller islands within AROB. Whilst improving information technology, PNG DataCo ensures AROB will be connected to the rest of the world boosting tourism, health, agribusiness and fisheries through the new technology.
“It is important that it can provide abundance of information through PNG which will now link all our island provinces together to the mainland and central agencies in Port Moresby. This means that sectors such as education, health, transport, civil registry, commerce and industry, finance agriculture and tourism will now use cloud computing to propel their growths,” Mr Komboi said.
“It will reduce costs, time and improve quality and reliability of services for social and economic growth. Our country can now consolidate its efforts in meeting our challenge in a collaborative manner more effective and efficiently.”
PNG DataCo is a Wholesale Service provider and is the developer and the operator of the National Transmission Network (NTN) which is primarily based on Optical Fibre transmission technology. PNG DataCo also provides satellite technology as its redundant transmission network but at this point in time serves as the primary connection in a number of these locations as well as Kumul Submarine Cable Network (KSCN).