The government, via the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), is proposing to roll out the “National Fiber Optic Network” so that the whole country has telecommunications service, using wide bandwidth. They say that it will mean faster Internet and an improved telephone and cable service.
According to information given to Diario Libre by Indotel, the proposal is included in their 2014-2015 plan, which is now in the public consultation phase. It will cover around 3,000 square kilometers or 6.67% of the country over five years and seeks to reach 80% within three years.
Indotel say it will cost US$62 million which is RD$2,675.3 million at the current exchange rate and of that, US$30 is in the negotiation phase with the World Bank, the rest to be paid by the country.
Indotel says that this network will improve business as it will attract new investors in the areas of telecommunications, tourism, industry, manufacturing and Free Zones. They say that a feasibility study has been carried out by a Spanish company, IDOM Ingenieria S. A., including the environmental impact.
According to Rafael Zorrilla, telecommunications engineer and former president of he Professional Telecommunications Association, this project is what the country needs in order to improve telecommunications, and it will improve the quality of service, availability and the access.
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/01/29/i458941_gobierno-proyecta-red-nacional-fibra-ptica-para-mejorar-servicio-telecomunicaciones.html