to digital
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
Switched on to digital
Solomon Telekom’s computerised digital 0C8283 Alcatel Gateway Exchange was switched on early in the morning on July 4.
Formalities leading to the eventual installation were signed about a year ago between Telekom, Alcatel & Caisse Centrale.
One agreement to formalise the status of a- French Aid Organisation, Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique and Solomon Islands government known as “Specifying the Special Status of Caisse Centrale de Cooperation in Solomon Islands” was signed between the then Minister of Finance and Econ omic Planning, Hon C. Abe and Mrs Chantel Michel, Charge de Mission Pacificique Sud in June 1992.
The second agreement was signed between Mrs Chantel and Telekom’s General Manager, Mr Martyn Robinson, and the area manager of Alcatel, Mr Jean Tauden for the supply and instal
lation of the exchange.
The new exchange will handle all international telephone traffic to and from Solomon Islands. It will also provide much needed expansion for the existing exchange equipment in Honiara by increasing capacity by 1000 lines. In the King George VI area, a Remote Line Unit has taken over from the existing equip ment giving another 1000 lines. Another Remote Line Unit was set up at the airport to serve the area and a similar unit at Kaibia will provide improved facilities in the area.
The exchange has given the operation section a face-lift with computerised operation boards which will see im proved services to the end-user in terms of call handling.
Company general manager Mr Martyn Robinson has welcomed the new devel opment as a “positive step ahead for Solomon Islands Telecommunications system”.
PNG's satellite earth station at Gerehu: Michael Bisiro, Joachim Piniko and Harold Arada (satellite technicians) discuss a technical problem with Ticker Haykar, manager of the station