‘Unlocking and Securing Digital Lifestyles in a connected Pacific’ was the theme for PITA 2018 — a theme which resonated with Kacific. Unlocking the access barriers to broadband internet is a key aim for the Kacific-1 satellite and core to the Kacific company.
Every year the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) AGM and Trade Show provides a place for telecommunications industry to share experiences, engage in professional development and ultimately find solutions to connect the region to world class internet and mobile services.
Jacques-Samuel Prolon, Kacific’s Chief Commercial Officer joined the panel: ‘Let’s be Bold: Enabling a real connected Pacific – the dual challenge: Part One – The national access’ to speak about gaps in services to micro markets. Prolon introduced GigStarter — Kacific’s turnkey solution to address these gaps — to the PITA community.
The requirement for broadband is diverse, traditional set up costs are expensive and end-user consumption needs time to grow. These challenges make micro markets problematic and risky for traditional ISP structures to service.
GigStarter is an easily deployable, low risk, entry level solution designed to respond to unmet demand in micro markets. GigStarter aims to overcome barriers to access by including technical guidance for the first VSAT installation, remote monitoring and troubleshooting, and a simple billing system framework. The risk is minimised by incremental CAPEX investment in line with demand – a pay-as-you-grow system.
The feedback was resoundingly positive. The flexibility and ease of GigStarter proved popular with attendees from across the Pacific, who are acutely aware of the challenges of small and dispersed markets. From large ISPs looking for solutions in micro markets to local entrepreneurs wanting to connect their community, GigStarter is satellite broadband simplified.
If you missed the panel, we welcome you to view the presentation below: