The American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy (ASTBS) initiative was successfully launched virtually, via Zoom, last Thursday.
Over 80 people joined the Zoom conference launch while several more watched via a simultaneous Facebook live stream.
A press release from the Department of Commerce said the event was a first of its kind for American Samoa.
“It was great to see so many people come together virtually, to listen and learn from a list of great speakers who touched on everything from innovation, cyber security, entrepreneurship, health care, and more,” said DOC Director Fuiavailili Keniseli Lafaele.
“Modern broadband provides so much potential, and this process that we are undertaking, to establish a strategy to effectively leverage ASTCA’s new connection to the Hawaiki submarine cable, will help the people of American Samoa see a quicker return on our investment.” said Department of Commerce (DOC) Director Keniseli Lafaele.
“The virtual launch of this initiative was the perfect demonstration of our territory’s capabilities now that Hawaiki is online.
“Over a hundred people participated between the Zoom conference and the live stream on our Facebook page. Incredible!”.
The ASTBS will assist the American Samoa in its efforts to determine how best to proceed in leveraging the investments made into the territory’s significantly improved telecommunications infrastructure, said the release.
“Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga & Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s administration has successfully installed the most modern telecommunications infrastructure in the region, creating a foundation for the potential growth of an Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries.”
The ASTBS is being funded by a grant awarded to DOC from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA).
SH3 Resource Development (SH3) was awarded a contract to assist DOC in coordinating the development of the ASTBS.
Gingerlei Porter, Project Lead said, “We are living in very exciting times with endless possibilities for American Samoa, not only as users of content and applications, but as creators of content through the use of broadband. SH3 Resource Development in partnership with the University of Hawaii look forward to working with DOC and to witness and document the growth of broadband usage in American Samoa through this process.”
