ATN/GT&T will formalise an agreement with the national telecommunication company of Suriname on Monday for the construction, maintenance and operation of a new Suriname/Guyana submarine cable system.

GT&T CEO Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh will head a four-member delegation to Paramaribo, where he will sign the agreement with his counterpart, Managing Director of Telecommunicatiebedrijf Suriname (Telesur), Dirk Currie, a press statement from GT&T said.

GT&T says the construction of the new system represents an important and strategic milestone for the development of communications in Guyana. The augmented capacity and connectivity made available through the new cable system will create greater opportunities for the development and expansion of business in Guyana.

The company adds that with the new cable system, Guyana will have a secure, reliable and redundancy- capable mechanism for existing voice and data services and for the expansion and sustainability of high quality international connectivity. Additionally, the country will have available the network capacity to support future requirements for the growth of ICT and transport of international telecommunication traffic. The system is expected to be ready for service in the first quarter of 2010.