Islands plugging in

By RICHARD WOOD

The Cook Islands Government is considering using power line communications (PLC) technology for a high-speed internet service.

Talks are advanced on a trial project involving European Union funding and German firm Bender Information and Systemtechnology.

PLC technology can transmit high-speed data through a device plugged into an everyday power point. The system would connect to the internet through satellite, and 12 of the 15 islands have enough population for it to be set up.