The project began in early 2016 with the signing of a supply contract, which was recently connected to the terrestrial fibre networks on Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Japan’s NEC Corporation was chosen to design and build the subsea cable which once online, will offer an operating capacity of 200Gbps of bandwidth although the ATISA has been designed with a total capacity 7.2Tbps.
“We are excited to announce that our ATISA submarine cable system is ready for service,” confirmed Jonathan Kriegel, DoCoMo Pacific president and CEO.
The $16 million 183 mile fibre-optic cable system is the second in the Northern Commonwealth Mariana Islands (CNMI) area, and the first in nearly twenty years. It connects Guam CNMI where local businesses and government agencies can connect to other systems, extending the cable’s reach to the internet, as well as giving competition to IT&E who previously held a monopoly on services to the area.
Toru Kawauchi, general manager of NEC Corporation’s submarine network division, spoke further on collaboration saying: "It is our great honour that NEC has played a part of this significant achievement for the CNMI. I am so happy to share this special and exciting moment with our customers. Since NEC is located in the Asia-Pacific region, we can always provide hope that our partnership will be further enhanced, and that we will help develop the CNMI region together, toward deepened mutual understanding and the fulfilment of human potential."
Ciena was selected because of its GoMesh technology enabling them to deliver 100Gbps wavelengths, which can scale to support any communications requirements for the lifetime of the cable and assist in delivering new on-demand experiences for users.
“With Ciena's high-capacity GeoMesh solution, DoCoMo Pacific is making communications for the CNMI region more stable, more agile, and better able to support demand from exciting new services that will transform their way of life," said Ian Clarke, Ciena's vice president of global submarine systems.
Submarine fibre-optic cable consulting firm Ocean Specialists Incorporated (OSI) were also in cooperation with DoCoMo Pacific on the ATISA project offering advice and project management support.
Tony Mosley, OSI director of Asia-Pacific, spoke favourably on the project adding: “The DoCoMo PACIFIC team has worked with unwavering focus to bring the ATISA network into service. OSI is proud to have worked with them from day one across the full spectrum of business case, technical requirements and program management needs."
In August CNMI residents will be able to receive DoCoMo’s mobile, cable television, online and home telephone services bringing with it extended entertainment choices, faster internet speeds and better mobile coverage all akin to what DoCoMo customers in Guam currently receive.
“ATISA makes it possible to offer the people of the CNMI the same world-class products and services already available to our customers in Guam. We look forward to working with enterprise partners of all sizes in the CNMI and helping them to serve their customers faster and more effectively. We want to sincerely thank our associates, advisers, and suppliers who have worked tirelessly over the last year and half to make ATISA a reality. We would also like to thank the CNMI government agencies, community partners, and especially the people of Rota, Saipan and Tinian for welcoming this project and helping to bring it to completion. ATISA is a major investment in our families and community, and enables us to create ONE Marianas for everyone,” summarised Kriegel.
