The Commonwealth has only one submarine cable system linking it to the outside world, unlike Guam which has several.<\/p>\n
Dan Tydingco, executive vice president for external and legal affairs of GTA, described the CNMI\u2019s connection as \u201csingle-threaded.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In case of damage to these cables, \u201cGuam is never really dark,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tydingco did a presentation in front of CNMI lawmakers early Friday on Capital Hill.<\/p>\n
One of the questions that were asked is the possibility of the CNMI having another cable system.<\/p>\n
Tydingco said it is probably up to the lawmakers and the CNMI government to determine if indeed the Commonwealth needs another system.<\/p>\n
He stressed that he was not at the meeting with lawmakers to do a \u201csales pitch\u201d and that the lawmakers merely want information.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
GTA will also be connected to the cable system, which is expected to have massive capacities.<\/p>\n
Tydingco said Yap and Palau are going to have \u201cspurs\u201d connected to the new cable system, which is expected to be completed in early 2017.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Taimanao affirmed that the meeting with GTA was for lawmakers to get information.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The breakdown eventually prompted the CNMI government to declare a \u201cstate of significant emergency\u201d on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, which is effective for 30 days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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