Cooks get $5mil telecom help
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
THE Asian Development Bank is putting up US$5.l9 million in loans and assistance grants to pay for an outer islands telecommunications project in the Cook Islands.
The project will involve building satellite earth stations and small-scale digital telephone exchanges on the islands of Mauke, Pukapuka, Atiu,
Mangaia, Manihiki and Penrhyn, as well as equipment to connect local subscribers, a satellite hub station at
Rarotonga, and engineering consulting
services. Of the total cost, US$4.9 million is in the form of a 40-year loan at one per cent from the Asian Develop ment Bank. The balance of the US$B million total cost is being provided by the
Australian Trade Commission. The satellite-based outer islands telecom munications project, planned for com pletion in March 1993, will provide a 24-hour link between the country’s population centres. It was aimed at
stimulating economic development and
commercial activities in the outer islands, improving the utilisation of scarce transport resources and helping maritime and air safety. It will also
provide additional information delivery
for health care and education. □