Low-Cost Retail Broadband for Filipinos in the Rural Areas

January 6th, 2009 by Ellis | Filed under Technology/Gadget.

Low-cost retail broadband is one of the options for Filipinos to try to get internet connection. With the signing of a deal between technology company We are IT Philippines, Inc. (WIT) and Thaicom Public Company, satellite broadband services can now be offered in the country.

The broadband services will be powered by IPSTAR satellite, currently one of the largest satellites in Asia, which is owned and operated by Thaicom.

Called the “IPSTAR BigSky,” the satellite broadband services will be targeted for the country’s rural areas. WIT will be targeting some 50,000 subscribers in these areas in the next 2 to 3 years. Since piloting this service in Mindanao, they have attracted significant subscribers.

Satellite broadband is fit for rural areas that are under-served when it comes to broadband Internet access. And WIT will also serve as the satellite gateway provider.

Subscribers in the Philippines can avail of the entry level service for $49 for a 512/256 Kbps downlink and uplink service, exclusive of an additional entry fee, consisting of a deposit fee for the satellite dish and other equipment. The price approximated DSL services rates.

Subscribers who may need faster access can pay an additional fee to jack up the downlink/uplink speed to as much as 2Mbps/1Mbps. The satellite service covers the whole country.

WIT will soon conduct a massive information drive for satellite services, noting that this is needed particularly for areas where Internet access is not common.