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Torres: Fiber optic cable competition is essential
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres reiterated the importance of fiber optic cable redundancy after a construction contractor damaged IT&E’s fiber optic cable last Thursday, crippling the internet connectivity and some cellular services in the CNMI.
In an IT&E press release last week, the company attributed the impaired services to a damaged terrestrial fiber due to an excavation work in Guam. Both Guam and CNMI services were affected.
According to a statement from the Torres administration, the disruption in services was a “prime example” of the importance of a second fiber optic cable.
“The administration’s drive for competition in the telecommunications infrastructure of our islands is aimed toward safeguarding the critical day-to-day services and activities that require access to the internet or a phone line for every resident here,” said press secretary Kevin Bautista in an email.
“While this incident is not IT&E’s fault, accidents may happen, and it is crucial that the government does what it can to ensure that people’s lives are not challenged by that eventuality,” states part of the email, which added that another fiber optic cable with redundancy will ensure that the telecommunication infrastructure remains competitive, “while being much more resilient.”
In 2015, a passing typhoon damaged IT&E’s fiber optic cable. Services returned to normal after roughly three weeks of repair and about $2 million in expenses.
