AS the laying of the fibre optic cable continues, the construction of an ultra-modern data centre has begun. The foundation of the centre aback of Castellani House, Georgetown is being laid even as the E-Governance programme is progressing and is expected to move into its final stage early next year.

E-Governance Project Coordinator, Mr. Alexei Ramotar said that the Data Centre will not be a ‘fixed building’ as it will be housed in three containers; one for power, another for cooling and the third for data purposes.
E-Governance refers to the delivery of government services and information to the public, using electronic methods.
Five hundred and sixty kilometres of cables will be hooked up from a Brazil telecommunications provider through Lethem stringing along up to Providence. In phase two, the Lethem/Georgetown line will be linked to another from Moleson Creek, Corentyne, Region 6 to Parika, Region 3.
Mr. Ramotar said that the container design is used by many countries as they are ‘easy to move’ in the event of a flood or other disaster. “The centre is the heart, where all data processing will be done,” he said, adding that 50 sites will be established across Guyana
Like other modern data centres around the world, a wireless back-up or redundancy cellular network will be set-up.
The 4G network cloud system will serve as the premiere data centre for all government information and will provide Guyanese and local businesses with faster and more efficient internet access.
Cables will hook up government entities across the country, providing them internet accessibility for activities such as video conferencing and document signing via electronic signatures, hence precluding the need for hinterland or far off residents to travel long distances to access same. Acquiring a birth certificate for an Aishalton resident in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) resident is one example of an electronic transaction. Doctors, for instance at the Lethem Hospital via teleconferencing could carry out major surgeries.
Students also stand to benefit significantly from this programme and an electronic library will be created utilising open software.