The 18,000 residents who reside in Palau, spread across nine islands in the main archipelago, now have dependable “always-on” service thanks to the successful implementation of a dual-satellite connection solution by Intelsat, the operator of one of the largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks in the world.
According to Gaurav Kharod, regional vice president of Intelsat, “we were able to tailor a solution that perfectly meets Palau’s specific needs for reliable connectivity by leveraging our extensive experience in the Asia-Pacific region.” “Intelsat’s dedication to fostering connectivity and bridging the digital divide for people everywhere is exemplified by this project.”
A single underwater fiber-optic cable was originally the sole means of communication for the Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC). However, as the PNCC found out when it announced a scheduled week-long outage of Palau’s cable link to Guam in July 2023, underwater cables are susceptible to breakage. Typhoon Mawar, which made landfall on Guam in May, may have been the catalyst for this emergency repair, which forced PNCC to restrict international internet access to essential services only.
The Intelsat solution for Palau offers unmatched redundancy and flexibility by utilizing two Intelsat geostationary satellites in different orbital positions. Using software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) technology, this multi-layered system smoothly combines the two satellites for maximum resilience. During disruptions, C-band connectivity is prioritized by critical infrastructure, while the Ku-band’s enhanced capacity helps a larger population. Furthermore, PNCC can easily grow Ku-band capacity in the future thanks to this dual-band strategy.
According to Simon Fraser, CEO of Palau National Communications Corporation, “Intelsat was the right partner for us because of that flexibility and their experience in operating in island nations like Palau.”
The advantages of the initiative go well beyond dependable communication. For the first time, PNCC is now able to offer internet services to the Southwest islands of Palau thanks to the solution. It has also given PNCC access to a previously unexplored market, which has resulted in new revenue opportunities.
