MANILA, PHILIPPINES (2 December 2019)—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million financing package today with Kacific Broadband Satellites International Limited (Kacific) to provide satellite-based, low cost, high-speed, wholesale broadband internet connections to countries in Asia and the Pacific, especially in remote areas of small island nations in the Pacific, and larger island nations like Indonesia and the Philippines.

ADB’s assistance will be used by Kacific for the Asia-Pacific Remote Broadband Internet Satellite Project. The project will support the construction, launch, and operation of a shared geostationary earth orbit (GEO), high-throughput satellite (HTS), featuring Ka-band technology. The project will provide wider access to broadband internet connections in remote areas where there is limited or no internet coverage available to date. Kacific1 will be launched by SpaceX in December 2019 and will be operational in early 2020.

There are currently over 2 billion people in Asia and the Pacific who do not have access to broadband internet connections for reasons which include a lack of existing infrastructure, geographical challenges, and the high cost of such services. “Better access to reliable, high-speed internet can help improve people’s education and provide access to better information, attract investments, reduce rural–urban development gaps, enhance trade and connectivity, as well as stimulate local economies. It will also help to improve communication especially during emergencies and times of disasters when terrestrial networks might be damaged.” said ADB’s Vice President for Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships, Mr. Diwakar Gupta.

“ADB’s role was key in getting this transaction closed” said Kacific Founder and CEO, Mr. Christian Patouraux. “ADB’s involvement in the project has helped secure the necessary financing for this highly developmental project. The benefits of connectivity are life-changing; from increased tourism, access to information, financial services, to healthcare and education for many remote communities in the region.”

The financing comprises a loan from ADB and a parallel loan provided by the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP), which is administered by ADB. LEAP is one of ADB’s cofinancing vehicles dedicated to private sector infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) supports the fund, launched in August 2016, through a $1.5 billion equity commitment. Combined with ADB’s own capital and that of commercial partners, the fund is expected to provide financing of at least $6 billion and enables ADB to boost support for quality and sustainable infrastructure. GuarantCo, a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group, will provide a guarantee to a private financer to cofinance the project. This will be the first-ever cofinancing of an infrastructure project by ADB and GuarantCo in the region.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

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About Kacific

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group is a satellite operator providing high-speed broadband for remote and rural markets. Kacific broadband fosters greater internet usage and fuels economic growth and improvements in service delivery across covered regions. Its high-power satellites use the latest multi-beam space communications and ground technology. Kacific’s first satellite, Kacific1, focuses on the Pacific and South East Asia. Kacific’s headquarters are in Singapore with main operations out of Vanuatu.

Kacific Media Contacts

Allan Botica, Botica Butler Raudon Partners, AllanB@botica.co.nz, +64 21 400 500

Nicole Steven, Botica Butler Raudon Partners, NicoleS@botica.co.nz, +64 21 025 31886

Pembiayaan Satelit Pertama ADB untuk Memperluas Akses Internet di Asia dan Pasifik

MANILA, FILIPINA (2 Desember 2019) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) telah menandatangani kesepakatan senilai $50 juta dengan Kacific Broadband Satellites International Limited (Kacific) untuk menyediakan sambungan internet pitalebar yang berbasis satelit dan berkecepatan tinggi ke berbagai negara di Asia dan Pasifik, terutama bagi negara kepulauan seperti Indonesia dan Filipina dan kawasan terpencil di sejumlah negara pulau kecil di Pasifik. Ini adalah pembiayaan satelit pertama yang disetujui ADB.

Proyek Satelit Internet Pitalebar bagi Lokasi Terpencil di Asia Pasifik (Asia-Pacific Remote Broadband Internet Satellite Project) akan membantu menjadikan sambungan internet pitalebar tersedia lebih luas bagi negara-negara di kawasan ini, tempat lebih dari 2 miliar orang tidak memiliki akses internet yang andal akibat infrastruktur yang tidak memadai, tantangan geografis, dan tingginya biaya layanan.

“Akses yang lebih baik ke internet berkecepatan tinggi yang andal dapat membantu meningkatkan layanan pendidikan, memperluas akses ke informasi, menarik investasi, mengurangi kesenjangan pembangunan perdesaan–perkotaan, meningkatkan perdagangan dan konektivitas, serta menstimulasi perekonomian setempat,” kata Michael Barrow, Direktur Jenderal ADB untuk Operasi Sektor Swasta. “Akses tersebut juga akan membantu meningkatkan komunikasi, terutama pada saat kondisi darurat dan bencana, ketika jaringan yang ada di darat mungkin mengalami kerusakan.”

“ADB memegang peranan penting dalam mewujudkan transaksi ini,” kata Christian Patoraux, Pendiri dan CEO Kacific. “Keikutsertaan ADB telah membantu guna memperoleh pembiayaan yang diperlukan untuk proyek yang sangat penting bagi pembangunan. Manfaat konektivitas akan mengubah kehidupan—mulai dari peningkatan pariwisata, akses ke informasi, layanan keuangan, hingga perawatan kesehatan dan pendidikan bagi berbagai masyarakat terpencil di kawasan ini.”

Proyek ini akan mendukung konstruksi, peluncuran, dan operasi sebuah satelit orbit geostasioner bumi berkapasitas tinggi (high-throughput) yang digunakan bersama. Kacific-1 dijadwalkan untuk diluncurkan oleh SpaceX pada bulan Desember 2019 dan akan operasional pada awal 2020.

Pembiayaannya terdiri atas pinjaman dari ADB dan dari Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) yang dikelola oleh ADB. Didirikan pada bulan Maret 2016 dengan dukungan dari Japan International Cooperation Agency, LEAP adalah salah satu sarana pembiayaan bersama (cofinancing) ADB yang dikhususkan bagi infrastruktur sektor swasta di Asia dan Pasifik.

ADB akan bekerja sama dengan GuarantCo, sebuah perusahaan di bawah Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), untuk menjamin pembiayaan bersama tambahan bagi proyek tersebut. GuarantCo menyediakan solusi kredit untuk pembangunan infrastruktur di negara berpenghasilan rendah di Afrika dan Asia, dengan pendanaan dari pemerintah Australia, Inggris, Swedia dan Swiss melalui PIDG Trust dan dari Belanda melalui FMO, Dutch Development Bank, dan PIDG Trust. PIDG adalah organisasi pembangunan dan pembiayaan yang menyampaikan infrastruktur perintis di negara-negara yang paling miskin dan paling rapuh.

ADB berkomitmen mencapai Asia dan Pasifik yang makmur, inklusif, tangguh, dan berkelanjutan, serta terus melanjutkan upayanya memberantas kemiskinan ekstrem. Pada 2018, ADB memberikan komitmen pinjaman dan hibah baru senilai $21,6 miliar. Didirikan pada 1966, ADB dimiliki oleh 68 anggota—49 di antaranya berada di kawasan Asia dan Pasifik.