A high-level delegation from the Australian Government is in Honiara this week to present thefindings of a scoping study into a new undersea cable from Australia to Solomon Islands.

The Australian government has committed to majority fund the project that would be a first for the country, currently reliant on expensive and unreliable satellite communications.

The delegation, led by Deputy Secretary Penny Williams, met with Prime Minister Houenipwela and other senior members of Government to discuss options to land the cable in Australia.

“I am pleased the study has found a number of solutions that would provide Solomon Islands with a highspeed internet connection from Australia at a competitive price,” Ms Williams said.

“Supplying Solomon Islanders with faster, more reliable and more accessible internet has the potential to bring about substantial economic and development benefits.”

The Solomon Islands Government is expected to formally consider the scoping study findings by the end of April with the project substantially underway in the second half of this year.

 

Source: Australian High Commission, Solomon Islands