Currently, all existing subsea optical fiber cables serving the island land at or near San Juan on the island’s northern shore, creating what amounts to a single point of failure that could cripple the island if an extreme weather event, geologic event, or geopolitical disaster were to occur in a manner that severs existing cables or destroys the island’s current cable landing station (CLS) infrastructure.
Resources: External Contractor, Project Lead by PRBP
Stage: Waiting for Grant Approval Department of Treasury, PRBIF available
Immediate Items: TBD
Key Aspects:
1. Diverse Connectivity: The PRSCR Program's primary objective is to break away from the island's current vulnerability arising from all existing subsea optical fiber cables landing at or near San Juan on the northern shore. By establishing new connections from the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the program ensures diverse connectivity points that spread across the island's western, southern, and eastern regions. This diversity minimizes the risk of a single point of failure, safeguarding Puerto Rico's communication networks even in the face of adverse events.
2. Resilience in Adverse Conditions: The geographical spread of landing points significantly increases the overall resilience of Puerto Rico's telecommunications infrastructure. The Island is exposed to a range of potential risks, including extreme weather phenomena like hurricanes, seismic activities, and geopolitical tensions. The new connectivity setup aims to mitigate the impact of these hazards by enabling communication restoration through alternative routes, allowing the island to maintain essential communication services during crises.
3. Infrastructure Redundancy: The creation of diverse landing points necessitates the development of new cable landing station (CLS) infrastructure across Puerto Rico's western, southern, and eastern coastal areas. This expansion not only enhances the island's cable infrastructure redundancy but also spurs local economic development by generating new job opportunities and technology investments.
4. Long-term Sustainability: The PRSCR Program represents a strategic investment in Puerto Rico's long-term sustainability. As the island's reliance on seamless communication continues to grow with technological advancements, the program's design anticipates these evolving needs and aims to provide a future-proof solution that can adapt to changing circumstances and demands.
