Ocean Specialists Inc. (OSI), a Florida, U.S. based subsea cable development and advisory company, announces a partnership with Interchange Limited to lead overall project management and buildout of the ICN2 cable system linking Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

The ICN2 cable system is the first contract in force fiber-optic subsea cable to the Solomon Islands, answering the growing need for high speed internet among these small Pacific islands. The companies expect the system to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The cable network will connect Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu with Honiara, Solomon Islands through a trunk and branch design totaling 1,632 kilometers. The ICN2 system will provide an initial capacity of 200Gbps with a design capacity of 15Tbps, utilizing Ciena Submarine Line Terminating Equipment (SLTE). The contract recently went into force with the subsea supplier TE Subcom. In their management role, OSI will lead the development, installation and commissioning of the network.

“Interchange Limited is committed to providing improved ICT infrastructure to communities we serve throughout the Melanesian region. The ICN2 cable project has been in the planning for several years; the support of OSI has been vital in bringing the contract into force. We look forward to working cooperatively with the government of the Solomon Islands to add this highly anticipated undersea cable to their ICT infrastructure,” said Simon Fletcher, CEO of Interchange.

“With our global experience developing subsea networks, we are grateful for the confidence that Interchange has placed in the OSI team, led by Tony Mosley. We look forward to our continued partnership and to working with the relevant ministries and government authorities to make ICN2 a regional reality, adding an important subsea connection in the Pacific,” said Jim Byous, President of Ocean Specialists Inc.