The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) has announced that Kacific (Kacific Broadband Satellites Group) opted to upscale from an Associate to a Full Membership to weigh in on major issues affecting the global satellite industry, in preparation of launch of its first High Throughput Satellite — Kacific1 — later this year.

As a unique representative of the Pacific and South East Asia dedicated to affordable satellite broadband to communities, Kacific will lend its voice and expertise through GVF for the benefit of in Asia Pacific’s unconnected communities.

The GVF works to build greater awareness and use of the applications, services, and technological advantages provided by satellite-based solutions. It provides the satellite industry with a unified voice on issues and regulatory matters such as market liberalization, licensing reform and spectrum access. These issues affect the industry and the much wider community of users, as restrictions to key resources such as spectrum are making telecom services to the unconnected inherently more expensive.

Kacific will leverage the training and installer certification programs of GVF, which has already benefited 13,000 professionals globally, to enhance the ability of its regional customers to efficiently deploy the VSAT terminals into the remote communities that Kacific1 will connect to the rest of the world.

Executive Comments

David Meltzer, Secretary General GVF, said that GVF is pleased to have Kacific join GVF and leading members of the satellite industry as a Full Member.  Kacific’s focus on providing improved connectivity for underserved Pacific island nations is not only a sound business strategy, it aligns with GVF’s commitment to be the global voice for the satellite industry”.

Kacific COO, Cyril Annarella, said the company proudly aligns itself with the GVF, an organization that is working to improve access to smaller communities and communities at risk in natural disasters. People of the Pacific and South East Asia are acutely aware of the need for strong disaster response and rapidly-deployed, reliable communications infrastructure. Satellite technology is the only viable solution for many of these nations to connect all of their people. The Asia Pacific region is affected by powerful cyclones, damaging earthquakes and the resulting tsunamis, and the adverse effects of climate change.