25 Jul 2012

Former Vanuatu PM in Russian satellite venture

2:40 pm on 25 July 2012

A former Vanuatu prime minister says a planned new satellite will help Pacific countries overcome their isolation.

Barak Sope says the satellite, which will be launched from Russia in three years, will provide a cheaper and better service than Pacific countries can currently access.

He says some countries in the region have already signed up to use the new satellite.

Mr Sope says he became involved because he has always been interested in ways to reduce the isolation that affects the Pacific island countries.

"So telecommunications can help us out of this isolation from other countries. The other thing is that telecommunications is very expensive in the Pacific and we are looking to the future. People talk about the future is with Asia/Pacific so telecommunications is part of that process."

Barak Sope says the satellite venture is privately funded but he will not reveal who is behind it.