Coral Sea Cable system is now in PNG
The Coral Sea Cable System is a 4,700km long fibre optic submarine cable
system linking Sydney, Australia, to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and
Honiara, Solomon Islands. The project also includes a 730km submarine
cable system connecting Honiara to Auki (Malaita Island), Noro (New
Georgia Island) and Taro Island.
The four fibre-pair international system will deliver a minimum of 20Tbps capacity to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands respectively, a total capacity of 40Tbps.
This will significantly augment Papua New Guinea’s existing submarine
cable capacity. The Solomon Islands currently relies solely on satellite
for international voice and data communications.
The Coral Sea
Cable System will deliver faster, cheaper and more reliable
communications infrastructure, affording both countries significant
economic and development benefits.
Australia will provide the
majority funding for this cable, with PNG and Solomon Islands
Governments jointly contributing up to one third of project costs.
Once
complete, PNG and Solomon Islands will majority own the international
cable and receive all revenue generated. Solomon Islands will also own
its domestic cable and all revenue generated.
World Bank research
estimates that improved internet access and connectivity could
translate into additional GDP of more than USD5 billion and close to
300,000 additional jobs in the Pacific by 2040.