Kacific launches emergency connectivity offering, CommsBox
Kacific has announced the release of a new emergency connectivity offering designed to rapidly provide broadband service in emergency or disaster zones.
Kacific CommsBox is a transportable, all-in-one satellite communications product that can be easily established in disaster zones when other communication channels fail.
The turnkey offering is intended to meet the particular disaster response requirements of territories in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Additionally, Kacific CommsBox comprises pre-configured, solar-powered units which require minimal setup and offer instant internet access to assist relief operations and connect users.
Furthermore, governments, civil defence, police, military, rescue services, and aid operations can store the CommsBox units in remote locations or transport them directly into disaster zones.
Kacific notes that natural hazards in Asia and the Pacific impacted 6.9 billion people, killing over 2 million between 1970 and 2020.
The company notes that since 1970, Asia and the Pacific have made up 57% of global fatalities from disasters and 87% of the total global population affected by natural hazards.
"The Asia Pacific region is prone to natural disasters. With many islands and mountainous regions, its geography adds an extra challenge for coordinating rescue and relief," Kacific CEO Christian Patouraux says.
"When powerlines are down, transport routes blocked, and fibre or other ground-based communications equipment damaged, Kacific CommsBox can be shipped into the disaster zone to provide internet access within minutes of touchdown."
The announcement of this new offering comes after Kacific and GuarantCo were named the winners of the Cooperation of the Year Award at the Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) Awards.
The award recognises the companies' affordable and reliable delivery of satellite internet to underserved markets.
The project involved Kacific and GuarantCo providing vulnerable communities in Asia Pacific with high-speed and reliable internet services to support their public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Partnering with GuarantCo saw Kacific secure a grant from the Private Infrastructure Development Group Technical Assistance to establish networks of high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots at schools, health clinics, and community halls.
As a result, the project reached over 200 locations, including governments and local communities, giving them free terminals at no initial cost as well as 30 gigabytes of free data to support medical services.
Kacific worked with local agencies to connect vulnerable communities in Papua New Guinea (where the company worked with the Sustainable Development Program), Vanuatu (where the company worked with its Ministry of Health), the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines.
Each Kacific CommsBox includes:
- A small auto-pointing satellite antenna
- Preconfigured and connected modem and satellite electronics
- Solar-power energy pack
- WiFi access point
- A user-tablet
- A sealed, shock-resistant, fire-resistant, water-resistant, and transportable all-inclusive container
- Unlimited high-speed data with first priority speeds of up to 50 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload
The satellite antenna also connects to the Kacific1 satellite, which offers widespread coverage across the Asia Pacific, including islands, mountainous regions, and remote areas.
