The Hawaii Inter-Island Cable System (HICS) is a vital submarine cable infrastructure that enhances connectivity among the Hawaiian Islands. Designed to address the growing demand for reliable bandwidth and high-speed internet access, HICS plays a crucial role in supporting telecommunications, data transfer, and various digital services across the region.
The cable was officially declared ready for service on June 30, 2022. This significant milestone marked the culmination of extensive planning, engineering, and construction efforts to ensure that the system meets the high standards required for modern telecommunications infrastructure.
HICS features multiple cable landing stations strategically located to maximize connectivity and service reach. The primary landing stations are situated on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. These strategically chosen locations facilitate efficient data transmission and redundancy, ensuring that users across the islands experience minimal latency and improved service reliability.
The total capacity of the HICS is an impressive 8 Terabits per second (Tbps), which significantly boosts the region's internet bandwidth and provides the necessary infrastructure to support emerging technologies, increased data consumption, and a growing population of internet users.
Designed with longevity in mind, the HICS submarine cable has an expected lifespan of approximately 25 years. This durability ensures that the system can adapt to evolving technological needs and continue to serve the islands effectively over its operational life.
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