By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Samoa can look forward to cheaper and affordable internet costs before the end of 2017 with the Tui Samoa Cable.
Local businesses and communities can expect faster, dependable and universal internet services once the Samoa Connectivity Project’s ‘Tui Samoa Cable’ kicks in to revolutionise ICT services in Samoa by this time next year.

To realise this vision, Tuilaepa’s Administration has set a new benchmark by introducing the first ever Private-Public Partnership to invest US$49 million dollars in the enterprise.

While the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank complemented by Australia’s Department of Affairs and Trade is funding the bulk of the investment a local company, the Samoa Submarine Cable Company (SSCC), has unified local investors namely telecom carriers;

• Bluesky Samoa
• Computer Services Limited
• Digicel Samoa

And local financial investors;

• Samoa National Provident Fund, (SNPF)
• Unit Trust of Samoa, (UTOS)
• Samoa Life Assurances Corporation (SLAC)

to contribute US$8 million to the cause.

 

 

At the shareholders finance and security deed signing agreement this week, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi did not hide his full endorsement dubbing the new submarine cable the “key infrastructure project that can deliver extraordinary benefits across Samoa’s education, health, business and tourism sectors for decades to come.”

Continued the Prime Minister;

“The project is expected to bring economic and social benefits to Samoa with significantly more reliable and affordable internet connectivity.

“The improved connectivity will support the country’s businesses and tourism sectors and enable improved access to information on health, education and job opportunities.

“It will also help families stay connected with the more than 100,000 Samoans who live overseas.”

The cable, added the Prime Minister will have enough capacity to improve global internet connectivity and bring a wealth of benefits such as;

• Enhanced scope for e-health with better New Zealand and Australian connections
• The Health Sector will have real time access to experts overseas on how to treat patients
• Improved access to education online, with the potential for better linkages with USP campuses around the region through the new high capacity cable which will link Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu with Samoa.

“All Samoans will enjoy the benefits with the enhanced connectivity for Savaii,” added Tuilaepa.

“The new cable can embrace and assist communications for fellow islanders in American Samoa and potentially the people of Wallis & Futuna Islands, plus Vanua Levu, the large northern island of Fiji.”

 

The SSCC cable will be commissioned 12 months from now.

 

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