DILI, 17 may 2024 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister, Kay Raka Xanana Gusmão, speaking at the 2024 Timor-Leste and Development Partners’ Meeting (TLDPM) said that the submarine fiber optic cable installation project could be completed by the end of this year.
“In terms of major investments, we expect the submarine fiber optic cable installation project to be completed by the end of the year,” said Gumão on friday.
He said that the submarine fiber optic cable installation project is a crucial infrastructure that will boost the private sector and facilitate the social and economic development of the population.
Last month, the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Miguel Marques Manetelu, said the Undersea Fiber Optic Cables for the Timor-Leste’s South Submarine Cable (TLSSC) project will arrive in Timor-Leste from France by the end of june 2024.
He said that the cables were manufactured in France and are currently being transported to Timor-Leste, and are expected to arrive in june this year.
“Due to the war route, the ship has to take another route through Africa, which will take a little longer than the normal route. Meanwhile, on the way through Africa, the ship must always be vigilant because there are many pirates,” Menetelu told Tatoli.
In september 2023, the Government of Timor-Leste through the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTK) signed a contract agreement with the companies RMS Ltd and DXN Ltd for the procurement of the “Civil Works for Landing Infrastructure TLSSC and Supply & Installation of Cable Landing Station (CLS).
The contract agreement was signed by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Menetelu, the Chief Executive Officer of DXN Limited, Shalini Lagrutta, and Erik Stokes, the Operations Manager of RMS Engineering and Construction Ltd. The installation of the fiber-optic landing station is expected to be completed in april 2024.
Minister Manetelu said that the South Submarine Cable project is a crucial component for Timor-Leste, as it will provide internet access to all Timorese throughout the country, adding the South Submarine Cable will improve the quality of education, boost economic growth, develop tourism sector, etc.
In may 2022, the VIII Constitutional Government and Alcatel Submarine Network (ASN) signed Timor-Leste’s South Submarine Cable (TLSSC) project implementation. The signing of the agreement paved the way for the Government and ASN to kick off the implementation of the submarine fiber-optic cable system project with a direct connection to Darwin and Port Hedland, Australia. The agreement to produce the cable for the TLSSC project was signed by the former Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, and the ASN representative, Craig Carter.
ASN is a market leader in the Subsea Industry with over 160 years of experience in manufacturing and installing successfully over 700.000 kilometers of submarine telecommunications cable systems all around the world.
The VIII Government allocated US$ 41.6 million of the 2022 General State Budget for the acquisition of submarine fiber optic cable equipment.
According to the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan (SDG 2011 -2030), one of the important aspects of infrastructure development in the country is the establishment of fiber optic submarine cables to facilitate faster and more affordable internet connectivity.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
