3 May 2018

BlueSky reassures American Samoan customers and govt

10:30 am on 3 May 2018

BlueSky Communications has moved to assure its customers in the American Samoa government and private sector that its communication systems are secure.

Telecommunications company Bluesky.

Telecommunications company Bluesky. Photo: RNZI / Sally Round

The telco has written a letter to them saying it uses highly secure terrestrial and submarine facilities which comply with industry standards.

It said US government security agencies had verified the system's security.

This followed last week's cabinet meeting when the Governor Lolo Moliga said the US Department of Homeland Security and State Department had serious concerns about using communication systems that were foreign owned.

He said he had been asked many times to join the Tui Samoa cable in Samoa but its ties to Fiji were a real concern.

The governor also explained the US Government wanted to protect against its communications being compromised not only within the federal government but also with its allies.

He'd earlier reminded government departments, agencies and authorities that they should now only be using the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority communications network.

Blue Sky said it uses the American Samoa Hawaii submarine cable system and terrestrial Cisco UIP Core and transport equipment to deliver services.

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