Improving fiber optic connectivity in order to increase e-commerce and attract outside investment is a recommendation the Econ Development task force made to boost economic opportunities for American Samoa.

“Communications” is one of seven main areas of economic development cited in the 40-page Economic Development Implementation Plan (EDIP) released last week by the government's 16-member task force.

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

The task force called for improving fiber optic to increase e-commerce and attract outside investment, saying that the American Samoa TeleCommunication Authority now has the Broadband Linking the American Samoa Territory (BLAST) project— a $91 million federally funded project— and O3B satellite networks which will provide the necessary added bandwidth for faster connectivity.  These projects will mean more economical Internet connections and ability to handle call centers and other heavy users of the Internet.

The task force recommends utilizing these new telecommunication services to focus on e-commerce activities and to attract outside investment.

According to the task force, ASG and Bluesky Communications have the American Samoa-Hawai’i undersea fiber optic cable (ASH-Cable) in place, “but it is undersized for the needs of current businesses, much less new businesses.” (ASG is the minority shareholder in the American Samoa Hawaii Cable LLC, which owns the ASH-Cable.)

The report went on to point out that an alternative undersea fiber-optic cable in addition to O3B is needed for a more stable platform.

It says that American Samoa needs to sign a Statement of Intent with “Hawaiki” cable company off the Hawaiki main cable, which runs from Portland to Australia; and select from options of participation; seek funding for procurement, deployment and hook-up.  Estimated cost for this project is around $40 million.

(Hawaiki Cable Ltd., the New Zealand based owner and developer of the Hawaiki undersea fiber optic cable, says the cable system will connect Australia, New Zealand, Hawai’i and the Pacific islands to the U.S. west coast. The cable system is expected go live in 2016, according to the company’s website.)

The task force also recommends an inter island undersea fiber optic cable between the two Samoas, and suggests that ASTCA conduct an undersea survey for the new cable and negotiate the terms of cost sharing.

“If the survey is positive then ASTCA will enter into an agreement with Samoa to acquire a third undersea fiber-optic cable as a joint initiative between the two Samoas,” it says, adding that this project is estimated to cost $10 million.

The report also recommends renovating ASTCA’s Fagatogo building and establishing an eastward call and data center in addition to reconfiguring ASTCA’s Tafuna building to establish a westward call and data center, interdependently.

Additionally, recommendations were made to ascertain the needs of the medical and health centers, as these centers will be interfaced with the fiber optic cable(s); and establish rates for connectivity to O3B to implement services.

IT SECURITY

The report covering communications development, also calls for improved safety, security and Information Technology (IT) services for ASG.

With the BLAST and O3B in place, Territorial-wide “real time” security network systems would be possible, adding that with high-technology and complex systems operational, the need for a centralized system will require well trained technicians and IT specialists.

Actions recommended to achieve this goal, include interfacing with ASG agencies, procuring necessary hardware and software, installing surveillance equipment, and implementing programs with BLAST and O3B for a Territorial ‘real time’ Security Network. (More about this in an upcoming report.)

The report also recommends looking into the establishment of a PEG channel with the local cable television company (i.e., Moana TV). It says that pursuant to provisions of the federal Communications Act, local franchising authorities may require cable operators to set aside channels for public, educational, or governmental (PEG) programming.

The final recommendation by the task force for this section is for ASTCA to provide a centralized, reliable, and robust venue to host and manage the IT systems.