International satellite operator to operate ICT services

A global international satellite operator has been given license to provide ICT services in the country.

National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA) CEO, Charles Punaha today presented the individual operating licenses to Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS).

ABS has offices in the United States, UAE, South Africa, Germany, Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

According to company’s website, ABS operates a fleet of satellites serving 93 per cent of the world. 

ABS offers a complete range of End-to-End solutions including Direct to Home (DTH), Cable TV distribution (CATV), Cellular Backhaul, VSAT and Internet Backbone services with diverse IP transit through its European, Middle East and Asian internet gateways.

Punaha said one of the requirements was for ABS to incorporate a company in PNG to provide Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services, which the company had complied with.

“ABS has been one of our clients for the last 10 year, and we do filing for them, and also they assist us to do coordination.

“Most satellites are in the PNG filings, except one of them.    

“And to this respect, ABS is not a newcomer to NICTA but to this occasion they have decided to open up a local office and submitted their application for licenses, which we will official handover to them three licenses approved by our board,” Punaha said.    

The three licenses are;

-              Individual Network (facilities and services) license to provide data and internet services over facilities and infrastructures for its customers in PNG;

-              Individual Network Gateway License (Gateway) license to provide international connectivity services for international voice and data connectivity; and

-              Individual Application License to provide internet services (voice and data) in PNG.

Gabriel Pimentel, ABS managing director thanked NICTA for the trust and confidence in the company and said they will kick the ground running with the licenses. 

 “We believe PNG is sitting on wealth and needs to be developed on better communication, not only in the developed areas but also in rural areas. “

 

Author: 
Charles Yapumi