O3b Article for Newsletter - June 2010

Media Releases & Articles

22.06.2010

Telecom Cook Islands signed a long term agreement with 03b Networks on Monday 14 June 2010 for the provision of 155megabits of bandwidth for Internet Connectivity to the Cook Islands.

The bandwidth will be supplied over O3b’s Medium Earth Orbit satellite constellation that is currently under construction.

The agreement marks a significant step change for Internet connectivity to everyone in the Cook Islands, its permanent population of approximately 15,000 people as well as its up to 100,000 annual visitors.

Covered by a single O3b satellite beam, supplying a coverage diameter of over 600km on the ground it will serve all of the Southern Group. The Northern Group will continue to be served by the recently installed VSAT Hub, but this could be upgraded by redirecting some of the capacity no longer needed by the Outer Islands in the Southern Group.

The technical broadband coverage on the Cook Islands will become 100%, practically overnight.

Rob McFadzien talked briefly about what customers will be able to do when O3b arrives compared to what they can do now. Far greater access to information, faster broadband, downloading and uploading will be possible, it will provide opportunities for everybody and incentivise Cook Islanders to adapt to a more web-centric landscape, spanning from educational and medical to commercial services. This new broadband network scenario is expected to also have a highly beneficial impact on the local economy, connecting its people on a level equal to that of their peers and business partners elsewhere in the world.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai who is also the Minister responsible for Telecommunications and Information Technology welcomed the new arrangement with O3b, encouraged by the promise of enhanced broadband speed and internet access. “Government is receptive to and supportive of improving access to such broadband advancements, particularly as they stand to lift the ability of Cook Islanders to do business, and offer advantages for the social sectors of health and education.”

This new facility will radically improve broadband service in the Cook Islands. At the moment the Cook Islands is connected by geostationary satellites 36,000kms above earth through “thin expensive pipes”. This means our customers receive slow, expensive broadband compared to the developed World.

In summary, 03b represents a major advance in the way the Cook Islands will communicate with the rest of the world. It will open up all sorts of opportunities to the residents and businesses of the country, as well as having a huge impact on businesses and residents of the Cook Islands. It will improve the way people live and it will help the economy grow.

The service is due to become operational in mid 2012.

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