Papua New Guinea’s state-owned telco Telikom PNG is investing approximately PGK53 million (USD20.6 million) in a microwave transport system in order to support the rollout of its national broadband network (NBN). According to the Solomon Star, the project is being carried out by Aviat Networks, which will supply Telikom with its WTM 6000 microwave trunking platform for the project.
As per the operator’s plan, a link between the capital Port Moresby and Lae will be created, and with there already being fibre-optic connections between Lae and Madang the project will effectively link Madang, Goroka and Hagen and route back to Port Moresby. With the telco expecting to carry out work in three phases, the first of these is expected to be complete by the end of June 2014, while the second and third will be concluded in September and late-November, respectively.
Commenting on the aim of the project, Telikom’s chairman Mahesh Patel was cited as saying: ‘The idea is to provide the fixed broadband right across the country and this will give us redundancy, much stronger singles and better service to the customers.’