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PNCC Extends Telecom with Internet to Sonsorol
and Hatohobei States:
All 16 States of Palau Now Connected to the World
December 31, 2009
Palau National Communications Corporation recently completed a special project to
bring telecommunications with Internet access to the Southwest Islands in partnership
with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) through a program called “Pacific
Rural Interconnectivity System” (RICS). As part of the “Pacific Digital Plan,” the
goal of the SPC RICS program is to provide low-cost, reliable Internet access to
people living in remote islands and rural areas of the Pacific, and Sonsorol State
was designated as one of the SPC’s pilot projects.
PNCC arranged for additional equipment to be purchased for Hatohobei State in order
to accomplish the goal of bringing modern communications to all 16 states of Palau.
The equipment provided through the SPC program includes a satellite dish (VSAT)
and a solar panel to enable “always-on” high-speed Internet access.
PNCC technical staff travelled to Sonsorol and Hatohobei this December to install
the systems and train state employees to operate them. The PNCC field crew was headed
by Stalin Bai, Plant Operations Manager, and included Network Administrator Ernest
B. Jamila, Telecom Technician Gailliard Rimirch, Network Technicians Arvin Rengulbai
and Juslee Maui, and Facility Maintenance Technician Philipus Tkel.
Governor Damian B. Albis of Sonsorol State commented, “Today, Sonsorol Island has
connected to the world in terms of Internet Communication. The teachers are able
to down load educational materials…the sick can get their medical services directly
from the Emergency Room at the Belau National Hospital by sending vital signs and
complaints to the doctor on call [and] our state of Sonsorol can now send and receive
daily reports, documents, and other communications…PNCC has extended its very important
services to the people of Sonsorol Island.”
Sonsorol State Delegate Celestine T. Yangilmau added, “We are very proud now to
have an Internet link with the rest of Palau and overseas, providing access to the
world of Internet.”
Hatohobei State Governor Thomas Patris said, “PNCC has helped us take a giant step
in establishing a communication system.” He added, “Commendation goes particularly
to the PNCC staff that went down to Hatohobei Island. Their dedication and volunteering
their time greatly impressed the people of the Southwest Islands.”
Delegate Wayne Andrew of Hatohobei State thanked PNCC for bridging “the communication
gap that we have always experienced throughout the past...The service you provided
clearly demonstrates your capability and capacity to
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manage Palau’s communication
needs of today and the future.”
“This is an important and final step towards achieving full universal service in
Palau; with the support of a grant from the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAid) through SPC, we now have an economical way to give worldwide
access to remote locations such as the Southwest Islands, which
has been on the
PNCC wish list for many years” commented PNCC General Manager Richard L. Misech.
The goal is to give Sonsorol and Hatohobei States, along with the national government
of Palau and other agencies, time to work together to identify ways to sustain the
operational costs in the long-term, through a combination of cost-sharing and possible
user fees.
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