MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New phone service and broadband for Falklands Camp

Falkland Islands Camp residents will have access to a new and upgraded telephone service, offering broadband, from mid-late 2009, according to a Thursday joint release in Stanley from the Falklands government and Cable and Wireless South Atlantic Ltd.

Following recent meetings between representatives of Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and Cable and Wireless South Atlantic Ltd (C&W) agreement has been reached, subject to contract, on terms for the replacement of the Camp telephone system. Heads of Understanding were signed by the parties on 4 October 2007 the main parameters of which are as follows: C&W will manage the telecommunications components of the contract which will include the extension of Broadband services into Camp. The capital cost will be shared with FIG contributing £823,000 and C&W contributing £1.3m. Any over run to the total capital costs of the project or any savings on costs will be shared in equal proportions. FIG has agreed to fund the cost of road construction to telecommunications sites and manage the contract/s for those works which will be offered for public tender in the near future so that the works can be completed this summer. FIG will also fund the initial provision of power supply and ancillary infrastructure, which is expected to cost approximately £1m. FIG has agreed that the date on which the 5-year notice under the exclusive licence dated 3rd November 1989 can be given will be extended from the end of 2007 until the end of 2014. FIG is satisfied that a continued exclusive licence is in the best interests of the Falkland Islands population. C&W has agreed to give an undertaking to FIG that they will charge for Broadband services in the Falkland Islands only on the basis of maximum tariffs agreed during the meetings and that those tariffs will not be increased before 1st January 2009. Cable and Wireless and FIG will review those tariffs to consider whether any variation is appropriate after that date. In relation to the consideration of telecommunications tariffs by FIG, C&W has helpfully agreed new, detailed, arrangements for the disclosure on an annual and confidential basis to FIG of financial information relating to their business operations in the Falkland Islands. C&W is currently working on the technical specifications of the project for inclusion in a contract document in due course. The main technology to be employed will be WIMAX with the deployment of VSAT (satellite) terminals at the extremities to ensure telephone and Broadband services throughout Camp. C&W have advised that they are confident that services can continue to be provided to Camp by the existing IRT2000 network until the new system is in place. Aaron Richardson, a Director of Cable & Wireless South Atlantic Ltd, said: "We are pleased to have agreed this Heads of Understanding with FIG and an extension to the licence. We look forward to upgrading the services we currently provide to our customers in the rural communities of the Falkland Islands". Dr Michael Blanch, Chief Executive of Falkland Islands Government, said: "Government is very pleased that agreement has now been reached on the replacement of the Camp telecommunications infrastructure. It is extremely important for the future development of Camp to provide good telephone and broadband Internet services". C&W has managed an operation in the Falklands since 1974 providing all national and international telecommunications services. The company has installed a telephone service across the Islands and launched local access to the Internet in late 1997.