Kacific’s Innovation Recognised at Singapore Business Awards

Singapore, 23 December 2022 – Kacific has been recognised in its home territory, taking out the “Most Innovative Broadband Satellite Operator – APAC” award at the APAC Insider’s Singapore Business Awards. Kacific’s Gigstarter service impressed the judges as it is an innovative solution to address the challenge of connecting underserved, rural and remote communities in Asia Pacific.

Innovation is central to Kacific’s values. Amid the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, customers were not prepared to make long-term commitments to internet plans. To give them peace of mind and greater flexibility, Kacific adapted its business model, and Gigstarter was born.

Kacific’s offering of flexible, prepaid, pre-packaged plans meant customers could purchase broadband month-to-month, site-by-site, with connectivity delivered via light, easy-to-install Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT). Kacific adopted a franchise model to sell Gigstarter to smaller distributors, Kacific Authorised Distributors (KADs), supporting them to enter and serve customers in hard-to-reach villages and remote regions. The model is especially appealing to small businesses and entrepreneurs as it is a fully managed service with unlimited data options.

Kacific’s now-extensive network serves communities where KADs share the local language and understand local needs, making it easy to tailor services. Terminals and equipment are stored in 27 regional warehouses for deployment so that KADs can deliver timely, cost-efficient and straightforward installation.

This model also paves the way for shifting the purchasing power from a few large telcos and governments into the hands of thousands of end-users. Kacific’s Gigstarter retail model has grown rapidly throughout Asia Pacific and now accounts for 50 percent of Kacific sites and 22 percent of its revenues. Kacific’s business model has proven effective, delivering revenue growth and allowing rapid expansion into more under-served communities.

Prior to Kacific’s entry to the markets, 1GB of capacity could cost up to US$4 per month. With Kacific, 1GB can now be purchased for less than US $2 a month, well below the affordability target set by the ITU and UNESCO. In the 22 months since the launch of Gigstarter, Kacific connected 350 healthcare institutions and over 1,927 educational institutes in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, The Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, The Philippines and Tuvalu. Prior to Kacific’s arrival, isolated communities in those countries had no access to broadband services.

https://kacific.com/ph/news/kacifics-innovation-recognised-at-singapore-business-awards