Satellite technology aids last mile challenges in healthcare


Pangutaran District Hospital is now a 25-bed capacity Philhealth accredited, Level 1 government district hospital.

Globally, healthcare organizations and governments are combating real-time battles against COVID-19 and the inequalities between resources available in urban cities and provisions available in rural areas. In the Philippines, people in the “last mile,” where 52% of the population resides in rural regions, remain to be unreachable. The country has distinctive geographic challenges that are accompanied by being a nation of many islands and a dearth of modern communications and transportation infrastructure in its remote areas.

Disparity between urban centers and remote areas

Based on the Philippine Municipalities by Poverty Incidence: Hospitals by Service Capability, there is a significant difference between urban centers and remote areas, resonated by a clear disparity in poverty incidence. Hospitals are mainly grouped around Metro Manila, and smaller groups emerge in cities like Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao. However, areas like Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have far fewer hospitals. It is reasonable that cities are centers for healthcare as they have more populations and get first access to resources. On the other hand, this leaves Filipinos in more rural areas at a major disadvantage.

Government to prioritize internet services

Developing digital infrastructure will be one of the top programs of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administrationas they strive to make Internet services affordable and accessible to more Filipinos.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy shared that Marcos had ordered him to prioritize far-flung areas without internet access and make it inexpensive for the people for them to access medical services.

“He instructed me to look into how to give digital connectivity to areas across the archipelago who are still not reached by the Internet,” said Uy.

Last May, the DICT also greenlighted more satellite systems players, including Kacific, a next-generation broadband satellite operator, to address the challenges of internet connectivity in the country.

Kacific delivers reliable, high-speed, affordable satellite internet to homes, businesses, and governments across Asia Pacific, including the Philippines, especially in remote areas.

Kacific has a locally embedded network of 150+ authorized distributors through local Internet Service Providers (ISP) such as Bambunet powered by Kloche Communications, Stellarsat Solutions, Inc., Limitless-Tech Solutions, Inc. powered by Kloche Communications, and Transpacific broadband Group, Inc. to connect remote communities and provide fast aftersales service. With their nationwide distribution network, Kacific was able to quickly deploy and install equipment to service over 2,000+ sites catering to internet requirements of various sectors, especially healthcare across the Philippines.

Kacific has nationwide distribution network.

Satellite Technology meets the needs of rural healthcare

Using satellite technology, Kacific has been able to deliver an alternative to fiber connection that is reliable, fast, and cost-effective for rural, remote areas. The first Ka-band HTS satellite, Kacific1, was launched in 2019 as a geostationary satellite. Kacific’s Ka-band technology provides higher throughput with smaller antenna sizes. This means higher download and upload speeds that can provide better internet performance. Ka-band also allows lower prices per megabit and good power manageability. Kacific’s broadband service was implemented in a hospital in Mindanao region, the Pangutaran District Hospital—eliminating the community’s network connectivity problems and opening doors for growth in healthcare.

Pangutaran is a coastal municipality in the island province of Sulu with a population of approximately 30,000. Access to the island involves a 5-hour boat ride to the mainland, which is approximately 60km away. The island is too remote for terrestrial network, which means that a steady and fast connection through fiber is not an option for its residents.

Terralogix is a Kacific Authorized Distributor (KAD) of Transpacific Broadband Group Inc. (TBGI), one of Kacific’s local internet providers.

This is where satellite technology steps in to provide the ultimate solution for their residents’ internet needs. Terralogix Corporation, a system and network integrator from Davao tackled the challenges involved in the connectivity and provided the solutions right away. Terralogix is also a Kacific Authorized Distributor (KAD) of Transpacific Broadband Group Inc. (TBGI), one of Kacific’s local internet providers.

Kacific achieves speeds of 85Mbps (70Mbps in download speeds; 15Mbps in upload speeds), with affordable bandwidths offered at affordable rates. This speed is more than enough to run applications for all their healthcare needs. For bigger businesses and communities, Kacific can even provide 100Mbps in download and 20Mbps in upload speeds for up to 60 users. Kacific’s partners offer Unlimited Plans starting at ₱5,940 in the Philippines. Terminals are offered for a one-time terminal fee of ₱34,000 or ₱52,000 depending on the model. A one-time installation fee of ₱10,000 is charged by distributors to install the terminal in a specific area.

Kacific’s partners offer unlimited plans.

Internet connectivity is revolutionary for hospitals like Pangutaran District Hospital. With better connectivity, the hospital can now make Zoom calls around the world, enable the hospital to offer telemedicine services, send radiology studies to a center in Davao for analysis, diagnose health conditions, gain rapid access to health information, develop suitable treatment plans, and offer a higher standard of care to their patients.

With Satellite technology, remote locations have better opportunities to thrive now. Rural hospitals may cultivate advanced healthcare with better quality of treatment, readiness, and productivity when they have access to reliable broadband internet through Kacific. Satellite technology is transformational for healthcare at present and a key enabler in preparing the healthcare industry for the future.

For fast, affordable satellite internet services in your area, you may reach out to Kacific’s ISPs:

  • Transpacific Broadband Group, Inc.
  • Stellarsat Solutions, Inc.
  • Bambunet powered by Kloche Communications
  • Limitless-Tech Solutions, Inc. powered by Kloche Communications

For more information on Kacific’s satellite technology, visit www.kacific.com or contact [email protected].