Regional : Asia-Pacific Remote Broadband Internet Satellite Project

Nonsovereign Project | 53115-001

The project entails the construction, launch, and operation of a shared, geostationary earth orbit, high-throughput satellite (Kacific-1), featuring Ka-band technology, which will be dedicated to low cost, high-speed, easily accessible broadband internet in Asia and the Pacific.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Mokroussov, Sergey
    Private Sector Operations Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Sector
    • Information and communication technology
Project Name Asia-Pacific Remote Broadband Internet Satellite Project
Project Number 53115-001
Borrower / Company Kacific Broadband Satellites International Limited
Kacific-1 Limited
Country / Economy Regional
Bangladesh
Fiji
Indonesia
Kiribati
Myanmar
Nepal
Niue
Philippines
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Location Bangladesh - Nation-wide; Fiji - Nation-wide; Indonesia - Nation-wide; Kiribati - Nation-wide; Myanmar - Nation-wide; Nepal - Nation-wide; Niue - Nation-wide; Papua New Guinea - Nation-wide; Philippines - Nation-wide; Solomon Islands - Nation-wide; Timor-Leste - Nation-wide; Tonga - Nation-wide; Tuvalu - Nation-wide; Vanuatu - Nation-wide
Type or Modality of Assistance
3800 Loan Ordinary capital resources USD 25.00 million Committed
8369 Loan Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) USD 25.00 million Committed
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Information and communication technology / ICT infrastructure

Gender No gender elements
Responsible ADB Department Private Sector Operations Department
Responsible ADB Division Portfolio Management Division, PSOD
Responsible ADB Officer Mokroussov, Sergey
Project Sponsor(s)
Description The project entails the construction, launch, and operation of a shared, geostationary earth orbit, high-throughput satellite (Kacific-1), featuring Ka-band technology, which will be dedicated to low cost, high-speed, easily accessible broadband internet in Asia and the Pacific.
Objectives and Scope The project will provide wide access to broadband internet connections in remote areas, where no or very limited internet coverage is currently available. The project will benefit the population in remote areas of Asia and the Pacific by increasing the availability and quality of broadband internet service, which will lead to greater sustainable socioeconomic growth and poverty reduction.
Status of Operation/Construction Operating
Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Following ADBs Strategy 2030, the project directly contributes to improve connectivity and access to ICT in rural areas as well as in small island developing states. Access to broadband internet is a vital tool to accelerate progress towards realizing the SDGs and the resulting ADB operational priorities such as human development and social inclusion, improved education, better health access, gender equality and food security. Through the availability of broadband based technologies, the project can assist in climate adaptation and disaster resilience as well as climate-smart agricultural practices.

Reducing the costs of doing business and providing social services by increasing access to ICT is one of the three strategic priorities of the ADB Pacific Approach 2016-2020.

Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The satellite antennae for the project were installed in existing five teleports in the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. The project is classified as category B for environment based on the ecological sensitivity of the location of one teleport site. An initial environmental examination and environmental and social audit was prepared in compliance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). Environmental impacts during construction were limited and site specific. The launching and operation of the satellite are handled by SpaceX and JSAT respectively. These facilities are not exclusively dependent on the Project, and therefore not considered as associated facility; desktop review was conducted as part of the audit process. The corrective action plan identified in the audit to achieve compliance with SPS was closed out by Kacific in 2019. There are no environmental, health and safety issues reported since start of the project's operations phase.
Involuntary Resettlement No land acquisition nor involuntary resettlement is required for the Project as all operations, maintenance and management of facilities are done within available land.
Indigenous Peoples Indigenous peoples are not known to be present nor are they using any of the facilities that comprise the project sites. No impact on indigenous peoples is envisaged.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation Given the nature of the project and the sites for implementation, there are limited opportunities for the active participation and inclusion of communities and non-government organizations in the stakeholder consultation process. No concerns/grievances have been raised during construction and operations phases of the project.
Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation
Concept Clearance 06 Mar 2019
Credit Committee Meeting 20 Jun 2019
Approval 24 Jul 2019
Last PDS Update 25 Sep 2023

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.