Internet
service - The Liberia Telecommunications Corporation or LIBTELCO has launched
Liberia's first post-war fastest internet service, the Fiber Optic Cable. The
Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine communication cable is a planned Fiber
Optic Cable system.
The
submarine cable is more than 17,000 kilometers in length, connecting about 25
countries, including Liberia, along the West Coast of Africa.
It will
provide broadband interconnection to global telecommunications and ICT
networks. Phase one of the project covers the entire metropolitan Monrovia
area, including 18th Street, Sinkor up to Congo Town, Paynesville, Somalia
Drive and Freeport, respectively. When it becomes operational, the submarine
cable is expected to provide the fastest telecommunication services to mobile
phones and the internet.
The ACE will
also enhance post-war Liberia development in the areas of creating new business
and career opportunities in technology, providing greater access to global
markets for Liberian goods and services, giving Liberians superior access to
News and Information, and improved access to banking systems and international
financial institutions.
The Fiber
Optic Cable will further help government prevent crimes and improve policing,
better record keeping, improve methods of communications. It also holds the
potential of improving the Police response time and providing greater access of
the citizens to the police. The ACE Submarine Cable was initiated by LIBTELCO,
and facilitated by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).
In June
2010, Liberia joined the ACE Consortium in Paris France, when LIBTELCO Managing
Director Ben Wolo, signed the Construction and Maintenance Agreement (C&MA)
on behalf of the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL).
The project
is a Public Private Venture that was formed under a Special Purpose Vehicle
called the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL). The CCL is made up of four
entities, including the Government of Liberia, LIBTELCO, LoneStar and Cellcom
GSM companies. The project is valued $25 million with the
Government of Liberia (GOL) owning 60%; LIBTELCO 20%; Lone Star Communications
10%, and Cellcom 10%, respectively.
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