Alcatel Arrives in Vanuatu for Subsea Cable Upgrade

Subsea cable owner Interchange Limited (ICL) has welcomed the Alcatel Submarine Network (ASN) team from France this week as they begin the upgrade of Vanuatu’s subsea cable. Interchange announced the upgrade last year, however the project was delayed due to the earthquake in December. 

The upgrade contract was awarded to ASN, which installed the subsea cable in 2014. The upgrade works will make use of Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE) and will increase capacity of the cable by a massive 1000 per cent, from 30GB to 300GB, providing enough data capacity over the coming years to match growing demands and future-proof the business. The upgraded cable will also utilise SMAT3 technology, a state-of-the-art innovation provided by ASN deployed for the first time in the world in Vanuatu. 

The cable upgrade mirrors the determination to bring new advancements with the SMAT3. The new ‘Tamtam’ cable, Vanuatu’s second subsea cable that will connect Vanuatu and New Caledonia, is using SMART cable capabilities such as monitoring ocean currents and temperatures, and helping to predict natural disasters, this also will be a global first.

“This major upgrade will benefit Vanuatu in many ways, and shows the commitment by both Interchange and our operations partner, Prima, to be leaders in this sector of subsea cables,” said Interchange General Manager Niall Downey.

“This investment by our shareholders shows their continued support to improve services for the population and continue to invest in world-class nation-building infrastructure for Vanuatu.” 

“The Interchange management would like to thank the local Prima team for overseeing the project and ensuring all technical upgrades are completed to the international standards demanded by ASN,” said Mr Downey.

“We also thank the ICL Board for their continual support and its commitment to invest in state-of-the-art technology for the advancement of the nation.”

The majority Government-owned ICN1 subsea cable is critical national infrastructure that connects Port Vila and Suva, Fiji, providing access to the Southern Cross trans-Pacific cable network, which links Australia and the United States. The ICN1 cable remains the property of ICL, with operations managed by local company Prima and its team of Ni-Vanuatu technicians. 

The cable upgrade project will be completed shortly with improved services to be launched in August 2025 and available to all Interchange customers, including the Vanuatu Government.