COMMITTEE UPDATED ON BROADBAND, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Members of the Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Marvin Blyden, convened for a meeting at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room and received an update on the status of the provider’s operations, services, broadband, and the future of telecommunications in the United States Virgin Islands. Furthermore, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (DPW) shared an update on public transportation and on road construction and repairs. Invited testifiers were officials from the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network (viNGN), Liberty Mobile VI/PR, Viya, Inc. T-Mobile, and DPW.
2022-04-19 12:25:47 - VI News Staff
Senator Blyden stated that the hearing is devoted to receiving a telecommunications update and receiving an update from the Department of Public Works on the status of roads, cemeteries, public transportation, and ongoing capital improvement projects. “We had hoped to hear from T-Mobile, which has taken over Sprint, but we have been informed that its officials are busy preparing to carry out its official launch in the territory. We will arrange for T-Mobile to appear before this committee at a later date,” said Senator Blyden.
Stephan Adams, the CEO of the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network, stated that the primary goal of viNGN is to provide broadband services to underserved communities such as the Virgin Islands through various federal projects and initiatives with a completion deadline of December 2026. Some of the broadband accessibility affordable projects are the Broadband Equity, Access & Development (BEAD) Program, IO Academy, and viTechHub. Adams mentioned that the objective of BEAD was to install free Wi-Fi in the courtyards of all public housing communities. The project was completed in December 2021. As a result of the success of BEAD, viNGN secured ARPA funding totaling $10.1 million to install ninety-five free Wi-Fi hotspots in public locations, including airports, clinics, libraries, community centers, parks, hospitals, and boardwalks. Adams stated that IO Academy will launch in seven public schools. The purpose of the program is to teach software coding, 3D printing, robotics, and drones. Regarding viTechHub, Adams noted that it is in the developmental stages. The purpose of the program is to collaborate with WAPA to build a 10-megawatt solar power plant for independent power.
There have been significant upgrades to the system, indicated Bala Balakrishnan, General Manager of the Liberty Mobile Network. Recent tests demonstrate that Liberty provides download speeds of 35Mbps on average, and the speed test trends are showing improvements of 108% of median download speeds measured by Ookla, compared to the baseline of the pre-fiber project, according to Balakrishnan. Despite steady improvements, Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing drop calls and phone calls going directly to voicemail. She stated that it is imperative to have reliable cell phone service in the Territory.