The New Dawn Liberia | Truly Independent

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for effective and improved internet services in Liberia to enable students and Liberian youths to get abreast about happenings around the world.

The President noted that if Liberia has fast and swift internet connectivity, it would help bridge the gap to create jobs for young people.

“We need an effective internet service in Liberia; it will help our youths to be on top of what is happening in the world; it will help our students do their assignments too, but the only effect it has is that more information will go out there to the world from Liberia,” she said with laughter.

Speaking at program marking the dedication of the local ACE Terminal Station in Liberia, the Liberian leader described the internet as another source of information globally.

The ACE Terminal Station is the nerve center of the fiber optic cable and the submarine fiber optic cables system of Liberia. President Sirleaf said she looks forward to Liberians benefiting from the service.

The President said with the presence of the fiber cable in Liberia, she looks forward to enhancement in the medical and educational areas, adding, “Liberia is advancing in the ICT area.”

Also speaking at the program, Liberia’s Post and Telecommunications Minister Dr. Fredrick Norkeh said the construction of the Ace Terminal was done with the joint efforts of several partners, including ministries and agencies as well as LIBTELCO, amongst others.

“Over the past few months the cable Consortium of Liberia(CCL), LIBTELCO, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Liberia Telecommunications Authority have worked jointly together to erect this beautiful building known as ACE Terminal. This terminal is the nerve center of the fiber optic submarine cables for Liberia”, said the Minister.

Dr. Norkeh noted it is within the terminal where all of the internet connectivity will take place rapidly, adding, “It is the point of transmission to Monrovia and its environs as well as the backbone which covers rural Liberia.”

The Posts and Telecommunications Minister has however announced that in coming months, the ministry will officially launch the turning on of the ACE Cable in Liberia.

He said all countries that are currently installing the fiber cables will go live on October 30th 2012 at which time President Sirleaf will again be requested to launch Liberia’s ACE Cable goes live.

For his part, the Chairman of the Liberian Senate Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications John Ballout said, the Senate has approved and pledged its support to the arrival of the fiber cable in Liberia.

The Maryland County lawmaker said cables will address the issue of connectivity gaps in the ECOWAS region, leading to integrated network with high speed connectivity among member countries.

The Senator added that the services will also improve government networks and revenue generation as well as education and health programs, among many others.