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Secretary Itimai signed MOU for Huawei to conduct Desk Study to connect all States in FSM for Broadband

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): January 4, 2011 - Secretary Itimai, Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure, signed on behalf of the FSM National Government a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, for Huawei to conduct a Desk Study for a Submarine Fiber Optic Cable (SFOC) system, that would interconnect the FSM States of Chuuk and Kosrae to Pohnpei and the State of Yap to Guam via a spur cable to the Republic of Palau.

Huawei is a company incorporated under the laws of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with the Head quarters Office in Bantian, Longgang District, Shenzhen, PRC. Huawei is a leading solutions provider in telecommunication and information technologies worldwide. Through continuous customer-centric innovation, Huawei has established end-to-end advantages in telecom network infrastructure, application & software, professional services and devices. Huawei products and solutions have been deployed in over 100 countries and currently serving one-third of the world populations. Huawei has been deployed in several Pacific Island Countries including the current FSM Telecom GSM Cellular System.

Witnessing the signing were Mr. Jolden J. Johnnyboy, Assistant Secretary for Communication, Mr. Allen Hao, Senior Account Manager Sales & Marketing, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd and Mr. Xia Pai, First Secretary for Commercial and Economics, PRC Embassy in the FSM. Secretary Itimai expressed on behalf of H.E. President Manny Mori our government's deep gratitude and appreciation to Huawei and the Government of the People's Republic of China through the China Embassy here in Pohnpei for this very significant undertaking, at no cost to the FSM.

H.E. Ambassador Weidong Zhang hosted a dinner at the China Star Hotel to commemorate the important occasion attended by Secretary Lorin Robert, Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Francis Itimai, Department of TC&I, Jolden Johnnyboy, Mr. Allen Hao, Huawei Representative and several Staff from the PRC Embassy. During the dinner, Secretary Itimai underscored to Ambassador Zhang that when the details of the project are organized by his Assistant Secretary for Communications, Mr. Johnnyboy and his Huawei counterpart Mr. Hao, he plans as Chairman of the President's SFOC Task Force, to call a meeting of the Task Force to further deliberate on steps to move forward on this project. The President's SFOC Task Force includes representatives from the relevant FSM Government Departments and Offices as well as from the FSMTC.

The study will commence in early January 2011 and is estimated to take three months.