Nabilah S
The Government of Vanuatu, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has partnered with satellite operator Kacific Broadband Satellites Group and its service provider in Vanuatu, 3 Link Communications, to initiate the Health Project. This program aims to deliver high-speed broadband access to health clinics and communities throughout the Republic of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu’s Minister of Health, Silas Bule Melve, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Kacific Broadband Satellites Group and 3 Link to fulfill the objectives of the country’s Universal Access Policy and to start implementing the Council of Ministers’ decision to deploy 200 VSAT terminals to connect clinics.”
The Minister of Health announced that the Health Project will tackle critical connectivity issues in health facilities across the nation through the deployment of 3 Link’s 118 Clinic Broadband Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Health. “The Ministry anticipates the tangible benefits this initiative will bring to health workers and facilities throughout Vanuatu, easing communication challenges and, crucially, helping to reduce maternal mortality rates in the country’s remote and rural areas.”
Minister Bule highlighted that Kacific and 3 Link will play a pivotal role in delivering this essential and timely solution, aimed at enhancing communication between health facilities, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized, “We will not only connect our health workers, but also provide the people of Vanuatu with access to a high-speed network during this critical time. Ensuring that everyone has access to clear and urgent information about COVID-19 is a top priority for my Ministry. People need to be informed without delay.”
Minister Bule further stressed, “This marks a significant milestone for the Government and the people of Vanuatu, opening a new chapter for all health workers and facilities in the country.”
Christian Patouraux, the CEO of Kacific, commended the innovative strategy embraced by the Ministry of Health, stating, “The Ministry clearly understands that by offering connectivity to a critical service like healthcare, they can simultaneously build internet infrastructure that enhances the overall well-being of entire communities. This approach fosters economic opportunities, strengthens social bonds, and connects families with their loved ones.”
Patouraux continued, “Kacific’s satellite internet service is specifically designed to deliver affordable and accessible connectivity to people in extremely remote areas. Vanuatu will serve as a perfect example of how even a single point of connectivity, initially intended for a single application, can quickly expand to create a rapid and enduring transformative impact throughout an entire community.”
Millie Ogden, the CEO of 3 Link, emphasized that the availability of reliable connectivity will play a crucial role in improving, upgrading, and strengthening communication between health workers in Port Vila and Santo, as well as all health facilities across Vanuatu.
Ogden highlighted that this service will empower the Ministry of Health to enhance and upskill health workers in clinics, facilitate access to online training, support the rollout of priority programs, assist with logistics for essential supplies, enable remote diagnoses by experts, and provide real-time advice for emergency procedures.
“We aim to support and address the key challenges faced by health workers and the communities surrounding health facilities, especially in connecting them with those in remote areas,” said the CEO of 3 Link. “Until now, health workers and community members have had to walk long distances, sometimes for several hours, just to access communication networks.”
In support of the health project, Chief Edward Rauh from Abwatuntora, North Pentecost, commended the installation of the satellite dish at the Mauna Health Center in January 2021. He expressed his appreciation, noting that the Government of Vanuatu, through the Ministry of Health, has finally provided a service that connects health facilties, health workers, and the wider local community. “Health workers, community members, students, and especially young people now have access. This is a significant improvement for us, as it enables communication from our remote area, which has been neglected for many years,” he said.
Rauh shared that during a childbirth on Pentecost Island, a registered nurse encountered complications and urgently reached out to a midwife at another health dispensary using satellite broadband. This quick communication facilitated by the hospital and the collaboration between healthcare workers ultimately saved both the mother and her child.
Kacific and 3 Link are partnering to supply the Ministry of Health with the necessary equipment and broadband connections for 118 selected hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries across Vanuatu. To enhance healthcare services, 3 Link has also been organizing demonstrations to help healthcare workers get accustomed to using video conferencing.
So far, 38 satellite dishes have been successfully installed: 18 in Espiritu Santo, 7 in Éfaté, 5 in Pentecost, and the remaining installations spread across Malo, Malekula, Tanna, Maewo, and the Banks Islands.
The service also includes provisions for communication support during natural disasters, with up to 50GB of additional data being made available to each clinic in affected areas during the rapid response period.
In a remote area of Santo Island, 3 Link has successfully installed community satellite WiFi stations in villages that had previously been completely isolated from any form of communication. Allan Taman, the Chairman of the Santo Sunset Environment Network, confirmed that the 3 Link system played a crucial role in providing life-saving early warnings about the massive ocean waves caused by an offshore cyclone in March 2021, which devastated coastal buildings. “Thanks to 3 Link, we were able to evacuate low-lying areas in time and save our boats and canoes, which are essential for our livelihoods.”
Beyond the immediate benefits that the Health Project will bring to local communities, 3 Link plans to use the satellite dish as a platform to expand its Community WiFi initiative around each clinic. This WiFi extension will act as a hotspot, enabling residents in nearby communities to access the advantages of satellite broadband connectivity by simply purchasing a voucher.
Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) is a cutting-edge broadband satellite operator delivering affordable, high-speed internet access across the Asia-Pacific region. Leveraging the latest multi-beam space communications and ground technology, Kacific ensures top-quality service for businesses, governments, and communities.
Kacific’s high-throughput Ka-band satellite, Kacific1, serves the Pacific and South-East Asia, particularly targeting underserved rural and suburban areas. The services provided by Kacific stimulate increased internet usage, which in turn drives economic growth and enhances service delivery throughout the regions it covers.
3Link Communications offers affordable high-speed satellite internet throughout Vanuatu, striving to close the digital divide within the country by utilizing next-generation satellite technology.
Dedicated to building a digital future for Vanuatu, 3Link Communications empowers individuals and communities to engage in the digital economy. Their initiatives support e-governance, education, economic opportunities, rural community development, logistics, agricultural management, and disaster prevention and recovery.
