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Digicel cable to connect Jamaica to Haiti
29 March 2012
Jamaican operator Digicel to deliver $16m cable system connecting Haiti to existing Jamaica-US link
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Digicel
Jamaica
Haiti
submarine
Columbus Networks
Alcatel-Lucent
Jamaica-based operator Digicel will deploy a $16 million 200-kilometre submarine fibre-optic cable linking Haiti to the existing Jamaica-US FibraLink system, in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent and cable provider Columbus Networks, to enhance fixed and mobile broadband services across its Haiti networks.
The Digicel-financed project may be ready by July. Alcatel-Lucent said the project will provide Haiti with an alternative submarine link after the previous was damaged by the earthquake in 2010.
Conor Clarke, group director of international business at Digicel, 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.”
Alcatel-Lucent said it built the FibraLink system — owned by Columbus Networks — which connects Jamaica with the US.
Alcatel-Lucent will subcontract the marine services required to IT International Telecom. After completion, the FibraLink extension to Haiti will be owned, operated and managed by Columbus Networks, and will offer a high capacity subsea link with 21 Caribbean countries and the US.
Paul Scott, president of Columbus Networks said: “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.”
Digicel is also considering investing in a Jamaica-US link. GTB
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