Fibre Optic Cable Project – Definitions

Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN): In charge of landing the cable at St Helena.

American Manufactured Structures & Services (AMSS): Designers and fabricators of the Modular Cable Landing Station.

European Development Fund 11th Round (EDF11): Funder of cable project.

Equiano: Google’s undersea fibre optic cable, being laid between Europe and southern Africa, to which St Helena has signed up to connect.

Marine Contractors & Consultants, Ltd (MCC): Contracted to undertake the marine-based portions of the Cable Project at St Helena, including laying of the cable on the seabed at Rupert’s.

Modular Cable Landing Station (MCLS): The MCLS is a major part of the project, essentially being the point at which the Equiano cable links into the Island’s digital infrastructure. It is a small building located at Rupert’s Valley, where the end of the Equiano cable connects to the Island.

Power Feed Equipment (PFE): Based within the MCLS, the PFE supplies a constant, ultra-high-voltage current to power the component equipment mounted in the submarine cable; and supports long-period operations.

Public Communications Networks & Services provider (the local provider): St Helena’s signed-monopoly provider for local communications networks and services. Until 31 December 2022, this is SURE St Helena. The local provider beyond that period should be announced in late 2021. It is the local provider that is in charge of the connectivity coming out of the cable end at the MCLS, and delivering connectivity as a monetised service to the Island.

St Helena Government (SHG): Leading St Helena’s Fibre Optic Cable Project.

St Helena’s Fibre Optic Cable Project (the project): Delivery of a branch of Google’s Equaino undersea fibre optic cable to St Helena, improving internet capabilities accessible to the Island.

Submarine Line Terminal Equipment: Allows the front-haul link to be interconnected to the respective internet service provider’s backhaul infrastructure.

Telecom Egypt: In charge of connecting St Helena to Telecom Egypt’s subsea system over the Equiano submarine cable system; assisting SHG in design, installation and configuration of the submarine and network equipment; and interfacing the cable with the system of the local Public Communications Networks & Services provider. Telecom Egypt (generally) is establishing new subsea landing stations and crossing routes and investing in new subsea systems and solutions that will cater to the new global wave of international capacities.

Teliri: The cable landing ship that brought St Helena’s branch of the Equiano cable to the Island.