Tui Samoa cable

Founder and chairman of the Digicel Group, Mr. Denis O’Brien was in Samoa to mark the launch and said, “First of all, I am delighted to be back in Samoa and this is a special moment as we have invested in modern technology as partners in the Tui Samoa cable, today it’s a historical occasion as our customers get to enjoy the best in data services. I would like to congratulate the Samoan Government for doing a great job in seeing through this project which won’t only benefit Samoa but other Pacific countries. As investors and partners in the Tui Samoa cable, this is a historical moment.”

This announcement follows the announcement made earlier this month about it investing WST $25-million in upgrading its network.

The official contract signing ceremony took place at the Samoa Submarine Cable Company landing station today and was presided by Digicel Samoa CEO, Mr. Farid Mohammed and SSCC Board Chairman, Leiataua Alden Godinet.

The Samoa Submarine Cable Company said Samoa, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna are now inter-connected via the undersea optical fibre system which spans more than 1,470 kilometres.

Samoa's Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i, said it's a significant milestone for the project to bring high speed broadband to everyone in Samoa.

The new internet connection is expected to be operational next month.

Speaking at a reception to acknowledge the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable, Tuilaepa said broadband Internet is a basic right for all Samoans.

“I have stated previously the Samoan government will leave no Samoans and no village behind and so we must find ways to make affordable broadband internet services available for all our people.”

The Prime Minister noted that affordability is a barrier to rural Samoans who have access to broadband internet, but cannot afford to use it.

The cable is being loaded on a freighter in Calais, France, at ASN’s factory: the freighter will sail at the end of the month towards Suva, where the cable will then be transferred to the laying cableship. 

Emmanuel Delanoue, SSCC CEO said: “We are pleased to announce another important milestone as part of the overall implementation. After the marine survey, the loading is another significant progress for the TUI-Samoa system implementation.” 

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, had invited American Samoa to join on to the Tui Samoa cable, which will be launched later this year.

But American Samoa's Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, has said the federal government has raised concerns about the territory using telecommunications systems that are foreign owned.

Lolo says American Samoa needs a lot of information from Samoa in order to make a wise and informed decision, including the costs and benefits.

Minister Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau. chairs the Samoa Submarine Cable Company (SSCC) committee established in September last year to operate Samoa’s cable project.

Tui Samoa cable will officially start work in May 2016 and already interest from other countries like Wallis & Futuna and Fiji have been noted. The cable which will be laid alongside Savai’i Island and passes near Wallis and Futuna and on to Fiji.

“Fiji has asked to connect a line from Samoa’s cable to one of their islands, Vanua Levu,” said Tuisugaletaua.