Broadband satellite to reach regions
A Spacex rocket launching late next year will carry a broadband satellite to offer New Zealand regions more internet from space.
Three internet service providers (ISP) have bought capacity on the Kacific-1 satellite this week, Singapore-based Kacific Broadband Satellites Group’s vice president Adrian Potter said. He would not name the companies.
Pricing for the broadband would be set by individual ISPS, but home instalment kits with a 75cm satellite dish and modem would cost up to $500 each, Potter said.
Farmside sells satellite broadband to rural areas from Australian company Optus’ D2 satellite. The cheapest package costs $139 a month for a 10 gigabyte data cap. Installation costs $799.
Potter said satellite broadband would fill the broadband gaps not covered by the Government-led Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) fibre cable network.
‘‘There is lots of interest from people particularly since the UFB and regional broadband won’t cover everybody.’’
UFB aims to provide fast internet to 87 per cent of New Zealand homes. It is set to be completed in 2022.
Spokesman for network provider Chorus, Nathan Beaumont, said UFB was the premium ultrafast technology and there was ‘‘potentially’’ a place in the market for satellite services, he said.
‘‘Primarily, reaching very remote locations that would be uneconomic to connect directly to fixed line infrastructure.’’
Kacific’s satellite the size of a double decker bus is being built by aerospace giant Boeing in Los Angeles.
It will also provide broadband to Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji among other Pacific Islands.