NEC to build cable link between Sri Lanka and Maldives

Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun (Dhiraagu), the largest telco in the Maldives, and Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) have teamed up to build a fibre-optic submarine cable between the two island nations, and have chosen Japan’s NEC Corp as the main supplier under a USD22.7 million contract. The undersea system, the first of its kind in the Maldives, will connect Male to Colombo, and will allow connection to four islands in the Maldives. The total length of the network will be approximately 1,100km with an initial transmission capacity of 20Gbps, with the potential to be increased to 160Gbps. NEC will provide a comprehensive set of equipment and services, including commissioning and integration on a turnkey basis.