SISCC takes over Operation of Cable Systems

SISCC are pleased to announce that they have now taken ownership and operational control of the submarine cable systems. On Friday 29th November, the cable system construction project reached Provisional Acceptance of the system. At 4pm on 29th November a series of asset transfer and novation agreements were executed, transferring the Solomon Islands Domestic Network to SISCC for operation and transferring the Coral Sea Cable System (CS2) to the newly formed Coral Sea Cable Company Pty Ltd in Australia for operation. The Indefeasible Right of Use for SISCC over the two fibre pairs linking Honiara to Sydney on CS2 was also executed, giving SISCC the right to operate over CS2.

The Coral Sea Cable company Pty Ltd is a special purpose vehicle company created to own and operate CS2 jointly between Solomon Islands, PNG and Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia, SISCC and PNGDataCo each own a one third shareholding in the company. The company is staffed by SISCC and PNGDataCo, with SISCC providing the Executive Officer and the Finance / Administration support while PNG DataCo lead the joint Cable Operations Group.

SISCC are now focussing on the final deployment of their customer facing and internal networking infrastructure in the Solomon Islands and the completion of their internet connections in Sydney. SISCC expect to be able to offer their customers access to the systems on a trial basis from Mid-December. SISCC remain on track to open for commercial service at beginning of February 2020 and bring the long awaited benefits of the super fast submarine cable to the retail operators who will provide these services to the public.

Any further inquiries or questions these should be addressed to Keir Preedy, CEO of Solomon Submarine Cable at the address below or by email to keir.preedy@siscc.com.sb

Solomon Submarine Cable is a registered business name of Solomon Island Submarine Cable Company Limited (SISCC)