The 10-year agreement with St Helena’s government includes the provision of telecoms and television services and will involve the roll-out of a mobile network in 2014, a year before the island’s first airport becomes operational.
CWC will also upgrade the island’s broadband network, and has committed to double the speed of broadband services by 2013, while also increasing the number of television channels the island has available from three to 15.
“We are investing in new telecoms infrastructure, while reducing the cost of tariffs, because we now have the certainty of extended licences and believe that the island’s economy will receive a strong boost from the opening of an airport on St. Helena in 2015. This reflects our commitment to improving the experience for our customers,” said Hensil O’Bey, CEO for Cable & Wireless St Helena.
The operator claimed that customers will benefit from reduced broadband and international call prices over the life time of the agreement.
CWC St Helena, a branch of Cable & Wireless’ South Atlantic wing, is the sole provider of telecoms services on the island, which has a population of approximately 4,000.
