Kacific’s CEO Christian Patouraux recognised as the CEO of the Year at the 2022 Asian Telecom Awards

The firm also took home the prestigious Satellite Telecom Company of the Year - Singapore award.

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group’s founder and CEO, Christian Patouraux, was recognised as the CEO of the Year at the 2022 Asian Telecom Awards. The leading satellite operator in South East Asia and Pacific Islands regions was also selected as the Satellite Telecom Company of the Year - Singapore. 

The Asian Telecom Awards recognise the remarkable achievements and projects of Asia's leading telecom companies. Kacific was recognised for its remarkable milestones, solutions to challenges, and unique initiatives.

With 26 years of satellite business and technology experience, Christian founded Kacific in 2013 which became the first satellite operator to start from the ground up with neither a parent company nor a license to operate. Today, Kacific is the biggest Ka-band satellite operator in the Asia Pacific. 

Guided by their vision to enable businesses, governments, and communities to fully participate in the digital world by providing high-quality, affordable satellite broadband access.  Kacific serves over 1 million users and is the largest Ka-band satellite operator in Asia Pacific. It has connected 18,000 users at schools, many of which did not have prior broadband access, and 11,500 users at healthcare clinics, dispensaries, and hospitals with a service that often proves a central contributor to saving lives.

Milestones and innovations 

Kacific's founding insight was to offer affordable, high-speed, satellite broadband to underserved regions of Asia and the Pacific. In 2019, Kacific launched its first satellite, Kacific1, which became operational in January 2020, and now provides more than 50Gbps of internet capacity in 25 regions throughout South East Asia and the Pacific.

Price sensitivity is a key factor for the underserved markets and Kacific knew how to address that through Kacific1. The satellite was designed to reduce the price per Mbps and the cost of each terminal by at least 50%. 

Kacific has exceeded the affordability target set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and surpassed its international broadband affordability targets in Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.

Challenges and solutions

When the COVID-19 hit, Kacific recognised the crucial need for medical and online communications for remote and rural communities. Kacific helped to facilitate remote learning and bridge communications between city and rural hospitals for transmission of information and health supplies with their satellite products. Kacific also launched multiple solutions to address the remote connectivity issues that multiple organisations are facing due to the pandemic.

Kacific has created an innovative franchise retail business model with Gigstarter, a flexible, prepaid, pre-packaged monthly broadband plan. Gigstarter allows end-users to continuously enjoy affordable broadband, especially in the islands with limited or no connectivity.

The group also created Kacific Authorised Distributors, a distribution channel that allows local entrepreneurs to resell Kacific's internet services in remote regions, further increasing Kacific’s reach and presence in the rural areas. Thanks to the presence of Kacific’s Authorized Distributors (KADs) in remote cities, the ability to interact, reach and serve customers have become easier given the movement restrictions imposed by different governments due to the pandemic.

Right now, Christian and the group is focusing on Kacific’s growth, including preparing for the next satellite, Kacific2 to meet the proven demands of the Asia Pacific and expand the company’s reach into Central, and West Asia.