Bonaire will be connected to the CELIA data cable in 2027. This will bring more reliable and stable internet within reach. Saba Statia Cable System BV (SSCS) recently signed an agreement with the Aruban telecom company SETAR, one of the initiators of the CELIA cable. SSCS did this on behalf of the Dutch government, the 100% shareholder of SSCS.
Fast, reliable, and stable internet is a prerequisite for (new) digital government services. Therefore, this investment is important. The Dutch government has also provided 4 million euros in subsidies to telecom providers in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba to further roll out fiber optics on the islands.
Consortium
CELIA (Caribbean ELite Alliance) is a consortium of several telecom companies operating in the Caribbean. The undersea data cable, scheduled to be operational by the end of 2027, will connect Aruba, Martinique, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and Boca Raton in Florida.
Key Points
The connection of Bonaire to the CELIA cable enables more reliable and better price-quality ratios.
“The new internet cable Celia is good news for the islands in the Caribbean,” said acting State Secretary Eddie van Marum of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), responsible for Kingdom relations and digitization. “This cable provides faster and better internet for people and businesses. This is essential for the economic development of the islands. Investing in digital connections is an important priority of the government to create prosperity and employment.”
Digital Connection
The digital connection between the islands is important, says SETAR director Roland Croes. “Investments like CELIA guarantee the connection of islands to the global data network and contribute to economic development. In the establishment of CELIA, we considered the potential expansion to other islands so that our islands do not become isolated from technological developments and can participate in the global data world.”
Marine Survey Ship
Preparations for the laying of the undersea cable have begun. In the last week of August, a marine survey ship will be visible off the coast of Bonaire. The ship will sail between Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, mapping the seabed in detail with advanced sonar equipment.
Mapping
‘To lay an undersea cable, the seabed along the route must first be accurately mapped for depth, height differences, existing coral, wrecks, and/or other materials. We will be advised by, among others, Stinapa Bonaire, the Cultural Heritage Agency, and Rijkswaterstaat. Based on this marine survey, the final route of the cable on the seabed will be determined,’ says Werner Haan, director of SSCS.
The CELIA cable will not only be extended to Bonaire in 2027 but also to Curaçao. SETAR and Curaçao signed a contract for this earlier this year. The project is also made possible by an EU subsidy from the CEF Digital Fund.
