Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:37 AM
Fibre Optic Cable project cost increasing, new tender out – Alexei Ramotar
Tenders for relaying Government’s fibre optic cable in certain sections along Lethem to Georgetown are expected to be invited within the fortnight. This would increase the cost of Government’s E-Governance Project, which has a budget of US$32M, says Alexei Ramotar, Project Manager.
Ramotar does not want to discuss the amount of money already spent on the project but stated that the unit is hoping to have all necessary information including the length of cable to be replaced; soil testing; and cost estimates to invite bids from interested contractors.
Project Manager, Alexei Ramotar
The affected areas include Mabura, Kurupukari, Annai, and East Bank Demerara Public Road.
Physical works for the laying of the 560-kilometers cable began in April 2011. Poor weather conditions and the absence of appropriate equipment were cited for the slothfulness of contractors, Mekdeci Machinery and Construction (MMC), DAX Contracting, Dynamic Engineering and G. Bovell Construction Services, in the execution of the project.
The contractors were expected to lay the cable beneath the surface but not all contractors were able to execute their tasks effectively, hence the need to relay sections of the cable in Mabura and Kurupukari. In addition, the supervising team hired (and later fired) was inefficient and the Unit did little or no monitoring during the project execution.
Meanwhile, vandalism was responsible for the destruction of a piece of the cable in Annai. And, during the relocation of utility poles to facilitate the East Bank Demerara four-lane expansion, part of the cable was destroyed.
With experience gained from the initial project, Ramotar said that the Unit would be collaborating with the Public Works Ministry to supervise the relaying project. Apparently, after some contractors did shoddy work, personnel from the Public Works Ministry were tasked with inspecting while the Unit did testing of the cable simultaneously.
“Our engineers came out on June 27, after three weeks of testing, repairing and identifying areas that will require major repair works. There are several such areas, but we are still examining the results from the tests. Areas where repair works will not suffice will have to be redone.”
“We have also installed all of our sites, Georgetown, Linden, Mabura, Kurupukari, Annai and Lethem and are testing the power and local site operations. We will then be connecting up with the Brazilian side and testing connectivity between Lethem and Brazil. Once completed, each individual link will be tested and then the full network,” he stated.
According to Ramotar, in an attempt to avoid vandalism the cable will be placed in pipelines below the surface in areas where there are bridges. He said that the cable would be of no value to vandals since its inside is glass and the exterior is rubber.
Speaking on the other aspects of the project, Ramotar said that the Unit is using a modular data centre approach for the National Data Centre. The data centre has been installed and is undergoing extensive testing.
He noted that a fibre ring has been built around Georgetown connecting the major Ministries and Government agencies. These include the Ministries of Health, Natural Resources and Environment, Education, Finance, Housing, Home Affairs, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana Revenue Authority, University of Guyana, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for the fibre optic outside plant.
“Several other Ministries and Government agencies will be completed in August in a second phase that includes Office of the President and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture,” he said.
“We have also connected into GPL’s fiber optic cable that will provide access to the West Coast up to Parika and connectivity for Linden/Wismar through our Lethem-GT fiber. Fiber has been run to UG and connectivity for the rest of the East Coast and Berbice is awaiting the completion of the GPL transmission line and substation project, Ramotar stated.
In relation to the project’s microwave or long-term evolution, the Unit has 21 sites under construction. They are located at Helena, Cane Grove, New Amsterdam, Melanie Damishana, Foulis, Enmore, Lusignan, Beterverwagting, La Bonne Intention, Liliendaal, Cove and John, Georgetown, Eccles, Den Amstel, Zeeburg, Wales, UG, Suddie and Aurora.
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