The Hawaii Inter-Island Cable System (HICS) is a submarine cable system that connects the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii (also known as the Big Island). The HICS cable system was built in the 1980s and is owned by the Hawaiian Telcom and Verizon companies.
The HICS submarine cable system consists of two main cables, one running from Oahu to Molokai and Maui, and the other running from Maui to the Big Island. The cables are made up of fiber-optic wires that transmit data and voice signals between the islands. The cables are buried beneath the ocean floor to protect them from damage caused by fishing boats or other marine activities.
The HICS submarine cable system plays an important role in connecting the Hawaiian islands, allowing for communication and data exchange between businesses, government agencies, and residents. The system also supports critical infrastructure such as emergency services, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.
In recent years, there have been efforts to upgrade and expand the HICS submarine cable system to support increased demand for internet and data services. These upgrades include increasing the capacity and speed of the cables, as well as adding new landing stations on the islands.
Overall, the Hawaii Inter-Island Cable System is an important part of Hawaii's telecommunications infrastructure and helps to keep the islands connected and communicating effectively.