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‘Single-threaded’ connection a concern
The Commonwealth has only one submarine cable system linking it to the outside world, unlike Guam which has several.
Dan Tydingco, executive vice president for external and legal affairs of GTA, described the CNMI’s connection as “single-threaded.”
In contrast, Guam has several privately owned cable systems connecting the island, Tydingco said. These cable systems are being used by four telecom providers: GTA, iConnect, IT&E, and DoCoMo, he said.
In case of damage to these cables, “Guam is never really dark,” he said.
Tydingco did a presentation in front of CNMI lawmakers early Friday on Capital Hill.
One of the questions that were asked is the possibility of the CNMI having another cable system.
Tydingco said it is probably up to the lawmakers and the CNMI government to determine if indeed the Commonwealth needs another system.
He stressed that he was not at the meeting with lawmakers to do a “sales pitch” and that the lawmakers merely want information.
Tydingco said the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap, and Palau are currently moving with plans to beef up their access to the outside world by connecting to the SEA-US submarine cable system that is currently being built.
GTA will also be connected to the cable system, which is expected to have massive capacities.
Tydingco said Yap and Palau are going to have “spurs” connected to the new cable system, which is expected to be completed in early 2017.
The GTA meeting was convened by Rep. Francis Taimanao (Ind-Saipan) in the aftermath of a massive communications breakdown more than a week ago that continues to affect Saipan.
Taimanao affirmed that the meeting with GTA was for lawmakers to get information.
The CNMI suffered a communications breakdown that affected mobile phone services and Internet access. Mobile services are currently online, but Internet access is still not fully restored.
The breakdown eventually prompted the CNMI government to declare a “state of significant emergency” on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, which is effective for 30 days.
