title: Caribe.Net
text: # Caribe.Net
  
  Caribe.Net, also known as Critical Hub Networks, is a telecommunications company that provides broadband internet access, data center and telephone services in Puerto Rico. The company is headquartered in San Juan. On April 26, 2010 the company received a $25.7 million federal award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative.
  
  ## History
  
  Caribe.Net was founded in 1994 and was the first internet service provider in Puerto Rico. The company was the first to offer the following services on the island:
  
  * Commercial internet access network
  * Individual dial-up TCP/IP service
  * SLIP connectivity service
  * PPP connectivity
  * ISDN
  * ITU-T V.90
  * 24-hour technical support
  * Online subscription services
  * Online account management
  * LAN-based dial-up TCP/IP
  * Commercial internet access to companies
  * T1 and burstable T1 service
  * Multi-T1 bonded service
  * Private IP network (intranet/VPN)
  * Virtual ISP (VSP)
  * Tier 1 backbone
  * ATM/Frame Relay architecture
  * 100% guaranteed uptime for hosting services
  * Independent facilities-based ISP
  * Free peering
  * Guaranteed commercial quality of service (SLA)
  * Colocation services
  * Internet data center
  * Disaster recovery services
  * In-room broadband services to tourism industry (HotelAccess)
  * Wireless DSL
  * Off-site, off-island secure backup services
  
  In 1999, Caribe.Net was acquired by PSINet, the largest independent facilities-based ISP in the world. In 2001, the company was acquired back by the original shareholders. Caribe.Net was also co-founder of the Internet Society of Puerto Rico and Network Access Point (NAP) of the Caribbean. In 2007, Caribe.Net teamed up with Voz to offer Enterprise-Level Telephone Services VoIP over Caribe.Net's Internet services.
  
  In 2010, Critical Hub Networks Inc. received a $25.7 million ARRA grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce to bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and health care through the improvement of broadband internet services in Puerto Rico. The project awarded is the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative.
  
  On February 22, 2011, Critical Hub Networks officially inaugurated the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative, which established the PRBI Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Congressman Pedro Pierluisi participated in the inauguration event.
  
  