KRALENDIJK - Bonaire will be connected to the international submarine data cable CELIA in 2027. This should provide more reliable and faster internet on the island.
Saba Statia Cable System (SSCS) signed an agreement on behalf of the Dutch government with the Aruban telecommunications company SETAR. SETAR is one of the initiators of the CELIA cable.
Four Million in Subsidies
The Dutch government is investing in better internet connections because fast digital connections are needed for government services. Additionally, the government provided four million euros in subsidies to telecommunications providers on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba for fiber optic rollout.
CELIA stands for Caribbean ELite Alliance. The consortium of telecommunications companies plans to make the cable operational by the end of 2027. The submarine cable will connect Aruba, Martinique, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and Boca Raton in Florida.
Economic Development
"The new internet cable CELIA is good news for the islands in the Caribbean region," says outgoing State Secretary Eddie van Marum of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations. "This cable provides faster and better internet for people and businesses. That is essential for the economic development of the islands."
SETAR director Roland Croes emphasizes the importance of digital connections. "Investments like CELIA guarantee the connection of islands to the global data network and contribute to economic development," according to Croes.
Seabed Survey
Preparations for the cable installation have begun. At the end of August, a naval survey vessel will operate off the coast of Bonaire. The ship will map the seabed between Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire using sonar equipment.
"To install a submarine cable, the seabed along the route must first be accurately mapped," explains Werner Haan, director of SSCS. The survey examines depth, elevation differences, coral, and shipwrecks.
The project also involves Stinapa Bonaire, the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency, and Rijkswaterstaat as advisors.
Curaçao will also be connected to the CELIA cable in 2027. The project receives co-financing from the European CEF Digital Fund.
