Kacific to Improve Broadband Access in Nepal after Successful Test; Satellite coverage addresses infrastructure challenges of mountainous regions
Kacific Broadband Satellites Group has successfully tested a Ka band terminal in Nepal, carrying out performance measurement and completing its first WhatsApp call via its Kacific1 satellite. This first test of a satellite broadband service to be carried out in Nepal, paves the way for the full introduction of a Ka broadband service.
The test achieved speeds of 80Mbps down and 16 Mbps up. Currently average fixed broadband download speeds for Nepal stand at 24 Mbps based on Ookla Speedtests.
Earlier this year the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) approved the use of Ka Band spectrum in Nepal, enabling Kacific to establish a nationwide broadband service. In granting approval, NTA said that it expected all regions in the country to benefit from faster internet at affordable rates as businesses, communities and government agencies within Nepal would be able to access services from Kacific1.
Nepal has a relatively low population density (205 people/km2), and only 20% of a total population of 29 million live in urban centres. The country’s mountainous terrain makes it difficult for ground-based technologies to provide widespread and reliable coverage, and large areas of the country cannot be connected using cable-based or even fixed wireless technologies. As a consequence, Nepal has an internet penetration of around only 37%, with an annual internet growth rate of just 5.5%.
This represents a major problem for the 23 million citizens living in rural areas. Healthcare, education, Covid-19 response, economic development and disaster recovery initiatives are unable to take advantage of the gains in quality, efficiency and access to expertise and resources that are possible in urban areas. Satellite is the only realistic way of connecting people and agencies, but until this year a fast Ka band service could not be deployed.
The introduction of Kacific’s service will improve broadband internet access in the sub-Himalayan hilly regions of Nepal, in particular. This region, covering an area of around 61,00 square kilometres, accounts for around 40 percent of total land area, and around 45 percent of the total population.
Speaking after Kacific’s successful test and a WhatsApp call with Regional Director, Dhan Gurung, CEO Christian Patouraux said: “This is a milestone event for the Nepalese people. The combination of difficult terrain and low population density mean that Nepal faces more difficult challenges than most nations in providing many different types of infrastructure. Fortunately, connectivity, which is widely recognised as a fundamental enabler for the construction of all other infrastructure as well as the provision of many other services, can be readily addressed using satellite technology.
“Because the Kacific1 satellite already covers Nepal, we can rapidly increase the take-up rate for broadband. To reach people in remote areas, all that has to happen is for a qualified installer to set up a small 1.2 metre diameter dish, point it at the sky, and then a school a clinic, a local authority, a business or a community has can access everyone and everything on the internet.”
Kacific Gigstarter plans will be offered in partnership with Spacelink with 7 unlimited plan options. The flagship plan offers speeds of up to 40Mbps (30Mbps download speeds, 10Mbps upload speeds) with prices from NPR31,950 per month. The plans will be offered with VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) which are small and easy to install and the latest MDM2010, a 2-way, high throughput modem with an easy point and play -installation. Services are planned to commence by the end of 2021.
