(Satellite dish being installed in Tongatapu. 1 November, 2022. Photo: Kacific/Matangi Tonga online)
Broadband satellite internet connectivity is now being installed for Tonga, under a new agreement between Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) and Kacific Broadband Satellites International Ltd., signed in Singapore on 1 November. Kacific is providing a satellite-based mobile backhaul solution to improve connectivity in underserved areas, and an enterprise-level back-up service to help mitigate the impact of future outages in Tonga.
In June 2022, a mobile backhaul solution was deployed at the two Niuas, the northern-most islands of Tonga.
Another two satellite terminal sites, one each in Vava‘u and Ha'apai, have been commissioned to provide connectivity, while the Tonga Domestic Cable Extension undergoes extensive repairs, from the destruction caused by the volcanic eruption of Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai in January.
More bandwidth
At the same time, a 4.5 metre satellite terminal, which can facilitate a higher level of bandwidth usage, has been installed in Tonga. TCC and Kacific are now working to commission a terminal at ‘Atele on Tongatapu, at TCC’s strategic emergency site. It will be used as an enterprise-level back-up option, in case of future outages or damage to the international fibre cable connecting Nuku‘alofa to Suva, Fiji.
A portion of the capacity allocated to the terminals in the outer islands can be reallocated to the 4.5 metre terminal in Nuku‘alofa, in a fibre back up arrangement. This will ensure Nuku‘alofa has access to high-speed connectivity for critical applications in the event of a fibre outage. Kacific TCC partnership
CEO for Kacific, Christian Patouraux said, that together with TCC they looked forward to being part of Tonga’s digital future.
“We are committed to providing satellite services in Tonga to support the nation’s connectivity needs and ensure its resilience. We have a strong partnership with Tonga Communications Corporation, having worked together to provision emergency capacity in January 2022 following the fibre cut”.
He said that Kacific’s satellite connectivity and responsiveness would enable TCC to quickly deploy internet services to the people of Tonga when critical connectivity is most needed. CEO for TCC, Sione Veikoso said that with Kacific’s partnership they would be well-equipped to address Tonga’s needs.
“Kacific understands the context of the Pacific. ....We look forward to a continued partnership with Kacific to increase the resiliency of the Kingdom of Tonga”.
Tonga is ranked as having the third-highest disaster risk worldwide, behind Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, according to the 2021 World Risk ReportIn a comparison of continents, Oceania has the highest disaster risk, predominantly due to its high exposure to extreme natural events.
Claim ongoing
Meanwhile, Kacific has an upcoming court action against the Kingdom of Tonga, scheduled to be heard in Singapore in April 2023.
The pending court action meant that, back in January and February when private sector businesses were desperate for connectivity, government would not allow the issue of the Tonga spectrum licences required to rollout Kacific satellite services to anyone other than government, even though the equipment was available in Tonga.
Tonga's fibre cable was out for 40 days following the HTHH eruption and the loss of bandwidth crippled businesses.
However, the Attorney General's Office in Nuku'alofa, told Matangi Tonga this week, that as for this new venture, TCC is a separate legal entity from the Government of Tonga, and their dealings with Kacific do not affect this case.
As reported earlier, Kacific previously came to Tonga's aid during a January 2019 cable outage, when it provided emergency broadband services to ensure critical national services could continue. It claims it has not been paid for providing that service.
The company based in Singapore, took legal proceedings to recover a fee of USD$5.76 million it claimed is owed by a Tonga government entity, Tonga Satellite Ltd. (The board of TSL included the Prime Minister and other Cabinet ministers).
The Tonga Government moved to deregister Tonga Satellite Ltd. from the business register, after the proceedings began on 19 January 2021, but that failed. Kacific Broadband Satellites International Ltd. succeeded in its civil application to the Tonga Supreme Court to have the government company restored to the register, in order to pursue its claims.
On 2 June, 2021 Lord Chief Justice Whitten ordered that Tonga Satellite Limited was to be restored to the Tongan Register of Companies.
2019 cable outage
Kacific's CEO earlier told Matangi Tonga that it supplied the hardware, the satellite connectivity, the expertise and personnel to provide critical connectivity for Tongan infrastructure and government agencies when the cables were cut in 2019. The CEO said that within 24 hours of the fibre break Kacific had a team member on the ground, and two more arrived shortly after. They directly restored internet to Government, the central bank, the airport and other facilities.
He said in 2019 the Kacific team also installed a Kacific dish at the fibre cable landing station so the rescue ship could access the data that identified where the break was and inform the cable ship. He said the team also worked with Ezinet personnel to assemble the 3m dish Kacific had provided for them.
Kacific Broadband Satellites Group headquartered in Singapore operates a KA-band satellite service delivering broadband access to Asia Pacific. Its main operations are out of Vanuatu.
Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) is a 100% Tongan and state-owned Public Enterprise. It is the only provider of fixed line telephone services in Tonga, and a leading provider of broadband internet and mobile phone services, with the widest cellular network coverage in Tonga and branches in the outer islands.
(Source: Matangi Tonga online)
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