Second submarine cable project put on hold for cost benefit analysis

Prime Minister James Marape told Parliament yesterday, a billion-kina proposal for a second submarine cable project has been stayed until a full appraisal has been conducted on its cost benefit analysis.

He says, this is considered among other options like the use of satellite downlink or even Starlink.

The PM says the first Kumul Submarine cable was affected by an earthquake between Milne Bay and Morobe, which caused a slip and disturbed its flow of traffic.

Mr. Marape added that the Government is considering not only cheaper internet access but reliability and one that won't compromise sovereignty, data protection and national security.

He says the move to partially privatise state owned entities, is ideally aimed towards bringing cost of utilities down:

The PM was responding to questions by Menyamya MP Solen Loifa on the status of the Kumul submarine cable and its introduction to the country, in light of increasing costs to Internet service access affecting small businesses, among others.

A ministerial paper on this matter is expected to be presented in the July sitting of Parliament by the State Owned Enterprises Minister, William Duma, and the Minister for Information, Communication and Technology, Timothy Masiu.