BIMP-EAGA to set up ICT secured network
December 18, 2009 10:43 pm
DAVAO CITY, Dec. 18 — The Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is working on a secured Information and communication Technology (ICT) network that would complement the existing initiatives of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS).
The Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MEDCo) said during the recently held BIMP-EAGA working group meeting they agreed to have the private telecommunication companies discuss bilaterally and come up with their agreement in February 2010.
A proposed visit to Malaysia's Communication and Multimedia Communication Headquarters in Cyberjaya along with the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threat (IMPACT) is set also in February next year to solicit best practices ICT network on security which can be replicated in other member-countries.
MEDCo chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana said innovation in ICT is always exciting since it has proven to become a driving force in competitive economies and he is optimistic that the working group will push for the ICT enhancement in BIMP-EAGA.
On the other hand, a submarine cable project that will link the Philippines with the rest of its counterparts in the BIMP-EAGA as well as with other Asian nations is now being eyed after the recent meeting of the BIMP-EAGA Working Group on ICT held in Cagayan de Oro City.
The proposed project will link Philippines with proposed fiber optic links in EAGA via Mindanao.
A joint study was conducted by Malaysia's Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd and SACOFA with PT Trans Hybrid of Indonesia to implement the proposed Kuching-Pontianak Fibre Optic Link, a 150-km cable system project between Tebedu in Kuching and Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
A terrestrial fiber optic network is available from Sarawak, through SACOFA to Sabah (CT-Sabah) via Brunei Darussalam through TelBru. The network can further connected to the rest of the world thru the submarine cable namely SEA-ME-WE3 (SMW3) and Asia-America Gateway (AAG) in Tungku Cable Station (TelBru) Brunei Darussalam.
EA Trilink will coordinate with other EAGA countries for their participation in the proposed BIMP-EAGA cable consortium.
During the presentation, EA Trilink said the project is an opportunity to “develop a high-quality regional network business at a very low cost” and that it “fits with anticipated timing of the exhaustion of capacity from upgraded existing consortium cables”. (PNA) LAP/Digna D. Banzon/lvp
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