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IT&E continues major investments in the CNMI
John Compton moves to Saipan as COO
As Saipan recovers from Super Typhoon Soudelor’s devastation, IT&E is gearing up to invest more in the CNMI.
“We continue to be robust and aggressive in our outlook for the CNMI. The total investment of an estimated $30 million will be used to build and improve our cellular, broadband, and wireline infrastructures with the overall thrust of bringing a greater data experience for all of the CNMI,” said Jim Oehlerking, CEO of PTI, the holding company of IT&E.
IT&E will begin to implement a cellular network expansion program that will include capacity increases of its existing 4G HSPA+ network as well as bring in a brand new 4G LTE network in conjunction with its partner, Ericsson. The cellular expansion will begin this month and will be finished by early 2016.
IT&E will also embark on a six-year, multi-phased buried fiber optic network that will provide not just high-speed Internet access but also improve the network’s resiliency against natural disasters, such as the recent Super Typhoon Soudelor. Phase 1 of this buildup is targeted to be completed within 2016. To complement the fiber optic build, IT&E will also upgrade the capacity of its existing residential DSL network, a project that is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016, together with the upgrades of its existing undersea cable using the latest state of the art technology.
Given the importance of all of these investments and developments, John Compton, IT&E’s CEO, is relocating to Saipan effective this month as IT&E’s COO.
Oehlerking, PTI’s CEO, will serve concurrently as IT&E’s CEO.
“I am excited about the move to Saipan and look forward to working closely with the CNMI community,” Compton said. “IT&E has always believed in the CNMI and has a long history of supporting the islands through all its ups and downs. We continue to firmly support the CNMI’s growth and development through these new investments.” (IT&E)
