September 1998 Talofa! Welcome to the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) web site. ASTCA is American Samoa's telecommunication leader to the world, providing advanced state-of-the-art digital telephone, Cellular, Internet and long distance service to and from Samoa's most remote and challenging areas. Whether you're hicking in Ta'u, fishing off the coast of Tutu'ila, or working in the office in Pago Pago - ASTCA connects you and Samoa to the world! Underground Cabling Project (News Release - Aug 24, 1998) A multi-million dollar underground cabling project is currently underway between Fagatogo and Tafuna telephone facilities. The project calls for developing an underground cable trench along Hwy 1 to house standard copper and fiber optics cables to and from both facilities. The 7 mile construction path (highlighted in yellow) begins from Fagatogo following the main Hwy 1 route to Tafuna and the main Intelsat Earth Station         Once completed, American Samoa's telecommunications infrastructure will be able to sustain and recover quickly from a major hurricane disaster. Telephone Switching System Upgrades (News Release - Aug 24, 1998) In pursuit of maintaining quality and advanced telecommunication service for its customers, ASTCA is currently undertaking a major engineering project to upgrade its main gateway switching system located in Fagatogo and telephone exchange switches located throughout the islands. ASTCA currently utilizes a Northern Telecom DMS 100 switch in Fagatogo. An advanced ATT 5E-SS toll gate switch will be deployed during the upgrade. ASTCA currently uses advanced Siemens DCO Class 5 switches in Leone, I'li'ili,Tafuna, Satala and Faga'itua Telephone Exchanges . Redcom Digital MDX 100 Class 5 office exchanges are deployed in Manu'a (Ofu and Tau Telephone Exchanges). Among the many technical benefits, the new upgrades will reduce the long distance connection time from the current 15-20 seconds (using C5 standard) to a wopping 2-3 second connection (using C7 standard). provide ISDN ready capability (mid-1999) to all customers who may desire among other things, a larger throughput to the Internet gateway provide voice-mail options The upgrades will also bring ASTCA in compliance with an FCC regulation to separate local and long distance systems. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 1998 at which time, ASTCA will be year 2000 compliant and ready for the new melinium. 1998-1999 American Samoa Telephone Directory (News Release - Aug 17, 1998) The revised telephone directory is scheduled to be available to the public in September. Contact the ASTCA business office to reserve your copy today! Job Opportunities with ASTCA (News Release - Aug 17, 1998) ASTCA is always looking for highly skilled technical Engineers and Business minded individuals to take American Samoa's technology leader into the melinium. Look in the coming weeks as ASTCA opens its Job Opportunities on the WEB!   Design and developed by samoanet LLP