Coral Sea Cable marine survey ends

The RV Northern Endeavour has returned to Honiara today, marking the completion of its trip to Auki, Noro and Taro.

The vessel has been in Solomon waters for almost a month, working in collaboration with a team of on shore experts to map the route for the Coral Sea Cable System and the Solomon Islands Domestic Network.

Preliminary findings from the survey team indicate that the Coral Sea Cable, linking Sydney to Honiara will be approximately 3,759 kilometres long.

The Solomon Islands Domestic Network will traverse approximately 722 kilometres across the Solomon Islands sea floor, facilitating the delivery of high speed, reliable Internet to Malaita, Western and Choiseul provinces.

Completion of the marine survey means the project can now move to the next phase. Alcatel Submarine Networks will manufacture the cable in France in accordance with the specifications from the survey.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Australian High Commission office in Honiara said the Governments of Solomon Islands and Australia are working in partnership to deliver this transformative, nation-building project.

Construction commenced in July 2018 and the cables should be ready for service by the end of 2019.

Upon its return to Honiara, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare, Leader of the Independents, Dr Derek Sikua, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, and the Governor of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, Denton Rarawa together with staff from the Australian High Commission and Solomon Submarine Cable toured the RV Northern Endeavour to learn more about the precise route the undersea cable will take.