Tristan : MODERN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR TRISTAN DA CUNHA BY THE END OF JUNE
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 30.05.2006 (Current Article)
Gerry Repetto updates us on what's new in communications on Tristan da Cunha.
Photo (c) Gerry Repetto - The New Satellite Dish
MODERN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR TRISTAN DA CUNHA BY THE END OF JUNE
The New Satellite Dish
By Gerry Repetto, Communications Project Manager
(Exclusively for Tristan Times)
At the end of June 2006 Tristan da Cunha will move into the 21st Century as far as communications to the outside world are concerned. The new communications satellite and telephone exchange have been installed and there are provisions for Tristan da Cunha to have their own internet café.
Final parts for the system have yet to arrive on the Fishing Vessel, EDINBURGH. This means that in sue course there will be internet facilities in each home on Tristan.
Improved communications on Tristan da Cunha are thanks to the FCO Telecommunications Network that links 233 sites worldwide. For the average Tristanian this means that it will cost much less to communicate with the outside world. Its affect on Government expenditure is also noticeable as costs will be far less than the present 12% of the Island Government’s annual budget.
The VSAT equipment and phone exchange installed in the Administrators office will have the capacity for 12 lines at 256 KBps, compared with the current sat-phone links at 64 KBps.
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