Haiti ? Telecommunications : 200km high capacity broadband ...

Reposted from?HaitiLibre

Two years after January 12, 2010, the country is set to receive a major boost with the delivery of a US$16m 200km undersea cable which will link the country to the world via internet connectivity, thanks to Digicel.

The project, which is being undertaken in conjunction with Columbus Networks, the undersea fibre-optic cable network provider in the Pan Caribbean Americas region, and Alcatel-Lucent, will dramatically expand the range and quality of fixed and mobile broadband services and content delivered throughout the country.

The earthquake in January 2010 damaged or destroyed much of Haiti?s communications network, including the country?s only other subsea cable link which, to date, has not been fully restored. As a result, the Haitian population and the Haitian economy have suffered from the lack of high-capacity broadband connectivity that is pivotal to business, public sector and social activity.

Digicel Group Director of International Business, Conor Clarke, said ?For more than two years now, Haiti?s recovery has been hindered by the lack of high-capacity broadband connections with the rest of the world. With the delivery of this critical undersea cable, the people of Haiti will see a truly dramatic improvement in the range and quality of communications services available.?

Once completed, the FibraLink Extension to Haiti will provide a secure, high-capacity subsea link with 21 other countries in the Caribbean region, as well as with the United States and the main internet backbone gateway located in South Florida. Digicel is funding the entire project and has drawn on Alcatel-Lucent and Columbus Networks? technology and demonstrated expertise necessary for the deployment of the high-capacity link.

Digicel?s undersea cable project is the latest in its ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. As the single largest private investor in Haiti, Digicel has invested over U$600 million to date and employs over 900 people directly and more than 60,000 people indirectly.

Paul Scott, President of Columbus Networks said; ?We are committed to fostering the development and continuous improvement of the communication infrastructure throughout the region where broadband adoption rates are continuing to grow rapidly. This expansion will enable us to enhance broadband connectivity further and thus deliver reliable bandwidth services at cost-effective prices to a very large population base.?

Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, said; ?We are proud to be part of this initiative as one of the variety of other outreach programmes to support Haiti?s recovery. The benefits that this undersea link can bring to Haiti can?t be over-estimated. We are pleased to collaborate with Digicel and Columbus Networks on such a critical endeavour.?

Alcatel-Lucent originally deployed the FibraLink system which provides coastal and terrestrial connectivity from Kingston to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay in Jamaica with direct connectivity to the US by integrating into other part of the Columbus Networks infrastructure.

Photo credit?HaitiLibre

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Source: http://emergingfrontiersblog.com/2012/03/30/haiti-telecommunications-200km-high-capacity-broadband-submarine-cable-financed-by-digicel/

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