27 Apr 2018

Company threatens to cut Northern Marianas cable

6:03 pm on 27 April 2018

A telecommunications company in the Northern Marianas is threatening to cut the fibre optic cable that connects Tinian and Rota to Saipan if the government fails to provide $US1.3 million it promised to pay for the service.

Offices of Docomo Pacific in Saipan

Offices of Docomo Pacific in Saipan Photo: RNZI/Mark Rabago

Under a memorandum of agreement signed with the CNMI government in 2016, Docomo Pacific agreed to include Tinian and Rota in connecting their fibre optic cable 'ATISA' at a fee of $US650,000 per island.

Earlier this week, the House of Representative included the $US1.3 million commitment to the telco in the $US15 million appropriations bill that also gave $US7 million to the CNMI Judiciary to fix its mould and air-conditioning problems.

The legislation still needs to be passed by the senate and supported by the governor.

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