DOCOMO PACIFIC selects NEC to build “ATISA” submarine cable: Project enables epic advancements for CNMI

DOCOMO PACIFIC today signed an historical agreement to begin work on ATISA, an optical submarine cable system that will connect Guam with the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. ATISA will enable DOCOMO PACIFIC to offer new and sustainable wireless, cable television, home telephone, and broadband services. More notably CNMI residents will experience major advancements in:

Telemedicine

  • Doctors, clinics and hospitals can quickly share patient data with off island experts

Education

  • Provides schools & libraries with reliable, high-speed connections for e-learning
  • Allows CNMI to fully participate in federally-funded programs

Economic Growth

  • Data use stimulates growth
  • Encourages private sector investment through tourism, hotels, etc.

Security

  • Provides redundancy for commercial safety to banks, airport, etc.
  • Microwave towers on each island provide a trusted back up to mitigate risk

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in communications connectivity between Guam and the CNMI. Project ATISA was born out of the collective desire of elected leaders, business owners, and most especially, our customers to bring transformative change to our island’ infrastructure,” said Jonathan Kriegel, President and CEO of DOCOMO PACIFIC.

“We are proud to partner with NEC and the governments of the CNMI and Guam to make this project a reality. True to its name, it is our sincere hope that ATISA will open up new possibilities and bring a brighter future to our part of the world,” Kriegel said.

A press conference was held on Saipan where officials from DOCOMO PACIFIC, NTT DOCOMO, NEC Corporation and the CNMI convened in solidarity to acknowledge the momentous occasion. This now confirms the start of a year-long partnership between DOCOMO PACIFIC Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT DOCOMO, and NEC Corporation, the company that will complete the project.

ATISA, a state-of-the-art six fiber pair optical fiber submarine cable system measuring approximately 175 miles in length, will connect the islands of Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian.

In keeping with our commitment to making the islands “better together”, DOCOMO PACIFIC will invest more than $25 million in the region. Completion of ATISA is anticipated towards the latter part of 2017.