Interchange Cable Network


The Interchange Cable Network is a series of subsea fiber optic cables currently being built/planned by Vanuatu based company Interchange Limited. The first cable, ICN1 linking Fiji To Vanuatu was ready for service on 15 January 2014. Simon Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer of Interchange, confirmed that some operators have signed up for capacity but several configuration and commissioning matters are yet to be attended to before the service can be offered to their clients.
The cable landing points are:
Alcatel Subsea Cable Vessel “Isle De Re” commenced cable laying on 10 November 2013 at the Fijian end of the cable. The cable arrived in Port Vila on 25 November 2013, 3 days ahead of schedule. This cable will provide an initial capacity 20Gbit/s which is more than 200 times the current capacity of Vanuatu's satellite system.

Future Cables

Interchange Limited plans to construct two more subsea cables. The first will connect Port Vila to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, A spur will also be built to Vanuatu's largest island by land area Espiritu Santo. On 21 January 2014 Interchange signed a supply agreement for the construction of the cable, the planned completion date of this cable is early 2016. The second will connect Port Vila to New Caledonia, with a spur to the Vanuatu island of Tanna. As of November 2013 no date for completion has been set.
These cables will provide redundancy to the Interchange Cable Network in the event of a cable fault.