Then at the end of 2001, FSM Telecom discovered ADC’s compact GSM and CDMA systems for developing countries and hard-to-serve areas. The result was that FSM Telecom could costeffectively build small-scale networks throughout the islands that could contend with the extreme climate conditions. In addition, satellite backhaul is optimized and implemented cost-effectively due to the advanced compression technology in the ADC system. | FSM Telecom Micronesia Providing Mobile Services to Remote Islands CASE STUDY In a remote area of the Pacific Ocean lie the Federated States of Micronesia 607 individual islands and atolls scattered over one million square miles but with a total land area of only 271 square miles. Four main islands are home to the majority of the 110 000 residents and represent the region s economic and commercial hubs. FSM Telecom the incumbent telecom provider for the islands has been offering voice internet and data services over its wired network since 1983. However for a number of years it had wanted to build a cellular network to meet specific requirements such as providing customers with mobility for voice and internet services especially in the marine community fishing and boating are a large part of everyday life in FSM and reaching areas where it is too costly to extend its wired network. FSM Telecom also had other unique considerations including avoiding expensive inter-island satellite backhaul and withstanding a tropical sea environment that produces extreme moisture corrosion heat and humidity. Over the years they explored the possibility of building a cellular network many times but traditional large scale cellular networks offered by the various infrastructure providers were simply too large and expensive to serve the citizens of Micronesia. CASE STUDY Then at the end of 2001 FSM Telecom discovered ADC s compact GSM and CDMA systems for developing countries and hard-to-serve areas. The result was that FSM Telecom could cost-effectively build small-scale networks throughout the islands that could contend with the extreme climate conditions. In addition satellite backhaul is optimized and implemented cost-effectively due to the advanced compression technology in the ADC system. Because ADC s cellular networks are quick to deploy and highly scalable FSM Telecom could realize revenues almost immediately by building in the most profitable areas first - and then expanding
