USP and TCL sign internet agreement [1]
Thursday, May 15, 2014 - 21:53. Updated on Friday, May 16, 2014 - 09:47.
Lord Tu'ivakano as the Chairman of the Tonga Cable Ltd and Professor Rajesh Chandra, the Vice chancellor of the University of the South Pacific signed a contract agreement in Nuku'alofa on 12 May for USP to be an Internet Access Provider (IAP).
Being an IAP, the USP would have a dedicated link between the USP Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji and the TCL office at Sopu via the submarine fiber optic telecommunication cable that connects Tonga to Fiji, and to the rest of the world.
Paula Ma'u, the Director of the government's Information and Communication Division explained that being an IAP the USP will have access to Tonga via the Tonga Cable Ltd submarine cable, and from the cable station at Sopu to the University of South Pacific Center at 'Atele via the Tonga Communication Corporation's telephone network.
The agreement granted the USP a concessional rate for using the TCL submarine cable, because it will enable Tongan students to access lectures and other education resources at the USP Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
There was also a plan for three secondary schools in Tongatapu to have access to lectures and resource materials at the USP Center, 'Atele.
The Minister of Education, Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki who was at the signing ceremony, was excited about the project and how it would enable Tongan students to easily access educational resources.