MWR upgrades just the start

Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Hoppe | IFONE Inc. won the bid to provide Internet services for U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo and Joint Task Force GTMO service members. They had 45 days from the time they won the bid to finish the project giving Morale, Welfare & Recreation hot spots an increase of 10 times the speed it was before. (U.S. Army photo by Rick Hoppe/ Released)  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

03.30.2015

Story by Spc. Amber Bohlman 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Internet speed has always been a problem for service members at both U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Joint Task Force Guantanamo, but those issues are progressively becoming fewer.

The recent installation of a new satellite dish March 30 signified the launching day for the new and improved Internet through iFONE, Inc. The process began approximately September 2014, when former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel heard concerns Troopers expressed here.

“He heard the feedback from troops in Guantanamo that slow Internet was a top morale concern,” said Tara Culbertson the Morale, Welfare & Recreation director. “From his direction, Defense Information Systems Agency sent a team of approximately a dozen staff to GTMO to truly understand the issues, barriers, challenges and opportunities to improve Internet speeds.”


Culbertson said the improvement of Internet connectivity wasn’t only for mission requirements but to help boost morale at MWR facilities, and provide service members the opportunity to improve their purchased Internet for housing.
Scott French, MWR Internet technologies director, said the new Internet at MWR locations has increased the capacity here by 10 times the amount of the previous systems here.
The locations that will see the fastest speeds are the four MWR Liberty Centers. The Liberty Centers are open to all unaccompanied active military members, and are located at Camp America, Tierra Kay Housing, Deer Point and Marine Hill.

“However, all other MWR facilities with Wi- Fi will also enjoy the new Internet bandwidth capacity – that includes the bowling alley/ Taco Bell, Windjammer, Bayview, Triple C Coffee Shop, the library and more,” Culbertson said.
French said the improvements will not stop there.
“You will also see changes in some of the bases internal functions, such as the length of time it takes to run your credit card when you pay for your dinner bill, or the time it takes to check out a book at the library,” French said.
Culbertson said she couldn’t be happier with the feedback she has received since the project was completed last week.

“The feedback I have heard has been tremendously positive. I’ve seen a lot of smiles and gotten a lot of high-fives around the base. One customer asked me how long we would have the faster Internet – my response was ‘we will have this until we have even better, faster Internet,’” Culbertson said.

Although the upgrade won’t have an immediate effect on Internet capabilities in living quarters, faster Internet is expected for housing in December.

“The undersea fiber that is coming in 2016 should help with mission and for barracks/housing Internet access,” Culbertson said.

It will also help with MWR’s Internet but in the mean time, the increase in GTMO’s Internet bandwidth by tenfold has already made people notice and is a welcome addition to the community while it waits for the undersea fiber to come.

• Date Taken: 03.30.2015
• Date Posted: 04.24.2015 10:33
• Story ID: 161118
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU