The governor announced the disbursement of $15 million for the second phase of the project that provides energy resilience for internet providers in telecommunications facilities around the island under Puerto Rico's Broadband program, better known as Smart Island.

The Resilient and Robust Internet Program has an allocation of $30 million. Last September 2023, the disbursement of the first phase was announced with about $15 million. The funds seek to ensure that Internet providers can count on reliable and resilient energy, as well as fortified infrastructure for telecommunications facilities to minimize the loss of Internet and telecommunications connectivity for Puerto Ricans.

“In these historic times in which the internet has been classified as an essential service, it is necessary to develop public policy aligned with Governor Pedro Pierluisi's vision of ensuring that all citizens can have reliable and uninterrupted access to the Internet. From the Smart Island program, we have carried out several projects focused on meeting our objectives of improving telecommunications facilities and ensuring the deployment of broadband infrastructure to provide high speed internet for all of Puerto Rico”, said the executive director of the Smart Island program, Michelle Cabiya Zorrila.

With these funds, the selected companies can purchase electric generators, solar panels and batteries to ensure that the service is not interrupted in the event of an emergency. The selected projects are rapidly implemented, in order to have an alternative energy backup for your telecommunications infrastructure and minimize the loss of internet and telecommunications connectivity on the Island.

The selected companies will be responsible for ensuring the implementation and operation of monitoring and control systems so that, remotely, they can provide continuity to the performance of the energy infrastructure and detect any problems before they cause interruptions in service. They will also be responsible for the development and execution of training for technical personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of resilient energy infrastructure, as well as the design and implementation of security infrastructure in the telecommunications facility, among other details.

The vendors selected for this second phase of the project are: Aeronet, Angeles, Claro, Critical Hub Networks, Data Access, DM Wireless LLC, HRCOM, HUB Advanced Networks, InNet, Liberty Communications, Liberty Mobile, MSWIFI ZONE, Neptuno, Osnet, WorldNet and Speedy Net.

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