On Tuesday March 3, PNCC and CHT had a ground breaking ceremony at the PNCC headquarters building in Airai.
The agreement also provides training for professional staff on the technical aspects of advanced cellular and satellite operations.In his special remarks, President Johnson Toribiong said, “.today is an official beginning of The PNCC Network Improvement Project which had it not been for its partnership with Chunghwa Telecom would not be possible..PNCC has come a long way and now is providing modern telecommunications to its customers.still there remains a lot for PNCC in upgrading and improving telecommunications service.” After introduction of special guests and welcoming of dignitaries by PNCC General Manager Richard L. Misech, special remarks were offered by Republic of Palau President Johnson Toribiong. Speakers included PNCC Board Chairperson Leilani N. Reklai, and representing Chunghwa Telecom, Dr. Shyue-Ching Lu, Chairman and CEO (Headquarter). Five senior executives from CHT flew to Palau for the groundbreaking. The ceremony was attended by many members of Palau’s leadership and two representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan). CHT Chairman and CEO Dr. Lu, commented, “.the project will support PNCC to provide additional quality telecom services for Palau and her tourists and to connect this beautiful paradise country to the world and the Internet in a cost effective way.”According to PNCC Board of Directors Chairperson Leilani N. Reklai, “This relationship is a win, win, win partnership. Our countries win, our telecom services are improved and expanded and our people get improved telecom services.”A statement from the PNCC said that the project will leverage CHT’s high-quality telecom experience, and wasinitiated by an MOU between the two telco’s signed in December 2007, with the support and encouragement of the governments of Palau and Taiwan.In 2008, PNCC issued a Request for Proposal which was awarded to CHT competitively in compliance with PNCC’s procurement process. The project will cost about $3 million over 8 years, in payments made by PNCC to CHT as a vendor for their services and equipment, the statement added.Chunghwa Telecom is the leading telecom service provider in Taiwan. Chunghwa Telecom provides fixed line services, mobile services and Internet and data services to residential and business customers in Taiwan.The Palau National Communications Corporation is a public corporation established in 1982 with the goal of modernizing and expanding Palau’s national communications network at a time when only 200 customers in Koror had basic telephone service. Today PNCC serves over 23,000 subscriptions nationwide for fixed line telephone, mobile wireless, digital television, and Internet.
