Denis Opudo
The government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australian government recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the two countries connected by a Coral Sea Cable System. Signed in Port Moresby, the MOU will help the two governments to connect an undersea telecommunication cable that will connect PNG, the Solomon Islands, and Australia. The trilateral project will help bring an end to the poor internet connection in Papua New Guinea.
This will help install the PNG with high-speed internet capability. Moreover, it will result in a significant improvement in the quality and reliability of the internet. It will also help local businesses in accessing new regional and global opportunities. Furthermore, it will help the governments to improve their services through the use of technology. According to Australia, the project will help to bring significant economic and development opportunities in Papua New Guinea. Bruce Davis, Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG said that the new project backs the effort by PNG to promote economic integration in the Pacific concerning its 2018 APEC host year.
It will also help to drive growth opportunities. Davis was saying these at Port Moresby during the signing of the project in confirmation of the arrangement with the PNG’s Department of National Planning and Monitoring. The laying of the Coral Sea cable system will be over by the end of 2019. The Australian government will fund a major part of this project. As a partner of the trilateral project, Solomon Island will have no otherwise but to provide its contribution to the project. This is a significant forward step in PNG’s quench in its urge of bringing out the hidden opportunities that are brought by faster and reliable internet connectivity.
