PT&T goes nationwide with VSAT

MANILA, Philippines — PT&T Corp. is expanding its presence nationwide with the introduction of broadband satellite internet services in partnership with a Singapore-based broadband satellite operator.

PT&T said it has teamed up with Kacific Broadband Satellites Ltd. to launch a very small aperture terminal or VSAT product.

The partnership allows the company to offer high-speed satellite internet at a more economical cost than other VSAT technologies.

“This further demonstrates our commitment to enable Filipinos everywhere to enrich their lives and connect communities,” PT&T senior vice president for sales Ella Mae Ortega said.

While PT&T is aiming to expand its fiber presence nationwide to help cope with the growing demand and reach more Filipinos, the company said it also recognizes the importance of VSAT to provide fast and reliable internet to the unserved and underserved businesses and sectors that cannot be reached by any wired infrastructure.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted existing inequalities and the widening of the digital divide. As the new normal calls for people to follow social distancing and lockdown protocols, the need for reliable internet that is efficient and sustainable has never been timelier and more important, especially in the remote areas,” Ortega said.

PT&T’s broadband satellite internet services are powered by Kacific’s high-throughput Ka-band satellite Kacific1, which spans Asia- Pacific.

The satellite’s beams are received by VSATs, which are small, roof-mounted dishes that transmit and receive data, voice, and video signals over a satellite communication network.

Ka-band technology, according to PT&T, is designed specifically to provide reliable, high-speed broadband internet to rural and remote populations through concentrated spot beams and easy-to-install onsite antennas that are cheaper than larger dishes of other VSAT technologies.

This technology can serve various industries, as well as residential customers, with a focus on underserved rural and suburban areas, PT&T said.

“We are pleased to partner with PT&T in the Philippines, harnessing our existing services and infrastructure to fulfil the growing demand for connectivity. Demand for work-from-home arrangements, e-learning, as well as telehealth services, have all escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kacific chief commercial officer Brandon Seir said.

Since the launch of the Kacific1 satellite in December 2019, Kacific’s operations have scaled rapidly across Asia- Pacific.

Kacific currently helps address a market of more than 100 million people in 25 countries around the Pacific and Southeast Asia who are unconnected or under-connected to the internet.

“With PT&T’s established expertise in the telecommunications industry, the partnership will further strengthen our position as a provider who can seamlessly connect rural enterprise, government and residential customers. We will follow a common goal to deliver affordable internet connectivity nationwide and join the rally in driving digital transformation in the country,” Seir said.

PT&T officially exited from a court-assisted corporate rehabilitation in late 2018, and has since pursued plans to expand and transform into a digital services provider.

Its business activities are currently categorized into two major segments--connectivity and IT services.

The company has a network reach of 22,800 fiber kilometers in high-growth areas, covering almost 40 percent of the total Philippine population.

It holds a 25-year national legislative franchise which allows the company to establish, maintain, and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for domestic and international communication.