University of Hawaii to lead state broadband expansion
The University of Hawaii will play a central role in the state of Hawaii’s broadband expansion plans, the institution said in a press release published Thursday.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced this week that Hawaii will receive $115 million from the Capital Projects Fund, the majority of which will be invested in a new undersea cable system connecting islands to high-speed internet.
Garret Yoshimi, University of Hawaii vice president of information technology and chief information officer, said in the press release that this project funding will “strengthen Hawaii’s aging broadband pipelines,” creating a foundation for “future decades that will see increasing demand for internet access.”
The University of Hawaii leads the Apakau ka la project, translated as “the spreading of the sun’s rays” — more than $400 million in federal grants and matching funds to boost state connectivity.
University of Hawaii President David Lassner said the university has led broadband expansion in the state for decades and is “proud to be the only institution of higher education to lead these vital next steps of developing the broadband infrastructure so critical today to work, education, healthcare and economic vitality for our entire state.”
