BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
UNDER the Solomon Islands National Broad Band Project, four towers are now operational, and 42 more are anticipated to be finished by August 31st, 2024, according to Minister of Civil Aviation and Communications Hon. Frederick Kologeto.
Hon. Frederick Kologeto, Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication, stated during a press conference with a local journalist in May that two key projects under the ministry are: the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP), funded by the PRC, which has four online towers.
“At Koleasi in North East Guadalcanal, the fourth communication tower project has just gone online. We anticipate having ten towers live by the end of June,” he said.
He stated that at the moment, the construction of towers is in Guadalcanal Province, Central Province, and Isabel Province.
“That’s for phase one. By the end of August 31st, we should be able to complete 42 towers in total. Then we will have the second phase, which will be in Choiseul Province, Western Province, and Malaita Province,’’ he said.
“As the schedule proceeds, we are on schedule. The ministry is hoping to make sure the towers are constructed according to the time frame,’’ said Hon. Kologeto.
In August 2023, the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) began its rollout from Guadalcanal to the Central and Isabel Provinces.
Former Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, during the launch at Sali in North Guadalcanal in 2023, said that with the completion of the project, it is expected that 80 percent of the population will access 3G and 4G network and broadband internet services.
Sogavare said that SINBID’s objectives are to; improve the mobile network coverage and information development, improve telecommunications network infrastructure and promote national economic and social developments, and narrow the digital divide and implement UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
