Caribe.Net Activates Puerto Rico-Florida Broadband Internet Network

Puerto Rico $32.5 Million ARRA Federally-Funded Broadband Internet Network Enters Final Testing Phase

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Critical Hub Networks (Caribe.Net) announced today that it has officially activated the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative’s fiber optic network between Puerto Rico and Florida and has begun final network testing.

In April, Critical Hub was awarded $25.7 million in Recovery Act (ARRA) funds through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative (PRBI) to bring fast, affordable broadband Internet service to all of Puerto Rico. $6.8 million in matching funds was also contributed by Critical Hub to the project.

The PRBI is an unprecedented initiative aimed at harnessing the power of the Internet to help solve the island’s economic crisis. PRBI brings together broadband Internet Service Providers, government and users in an innovative solution focused on solving the problems behind Puerto Rico’s lagging broadband Internet network.

“Since the funding of the project in April of this year, Critical Hub has made great strides in deploying this first key phase of our project,” said Carlo Marazzi, President of Critical Hub. “Over the next 30 days we will conduct final network testing in conjunction with broadband providers, with a target activation date of January 17, 2011.”

Puerto Rico’s broadband Internet penetration rate is the lowest in the nation, with less than 40% of households subscribing to broadband Internet services. “While there are many factors at play, broadband in Puerto Rico is simply too expensive and too slow, when compared to the rest of the nation. The goal of the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative is to solve this - bringing fast, affordable broadband to all residents,” stated Marazzi.

Broadband Internet service in Puerto Rico is 60% more expensive and 78% slower than the United States national median. In a report published by the Communication Workers of America (CWA) which ranked broadband speeds in the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico was ranked in last place (52^nd place).

“High-speed broadband access and connectivity are vital for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness, world-class education, innovation and creativity. The PRBI is designed to bring Puerto Rico to a level comparable to the mainland, in terms of affordability and accessibility to fast broadband service,” stated Critical Hub Network’s ARRA grant proposal.

Funding for the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative comes from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the US Department of Commerce, under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the ARRA or the Recovery Act. The Recovery Act provided a total of $7.2 billion to fund projects that will expand access to and adoption of broadband services. Of that funding, NTIA awarded $4.7 billion in grants to deploy broadband infrastructure in the United States, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. For more information, visit www.broadbandusa.gov.

Headquartered in El Telegrafo in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Critical Hub Networks, also known as Caribe.Net, is an Internet Service Provider offering disaster recovery, data center & colocation services, and a full suite of retail, corporate and wholesale Internet services. Additional information about Critical Hub Networks can be obtained by e-mail at webmaster@caribe.net, by accessing the web site at www.caribe.net, the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative website at www.prbridgeinitiative.org or by calling (787) 728-9000.

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CONTACT:

Critical Hub Networks, Inc. (Caribe.Net)
Karen Larson, 787-728-9000
Senior Vice President
kmarazzi@caribe.net

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Caribbean  Florida  Puerto Rico

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Internet  Networks  Telecommunications

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