ST. HELIER, Jersey--(BUSINESS WIRE)--O3b Networks today announced that its largest Telco customer, Digicel Pacific, has signed an agreement to significantly upgrade its capacity in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with smaller capacity upgrades in both Nauru and Samoa. The expansion represents a greater than 300% increase in total contracted capacity for Digicel in markets across the Pacific. Digicel Pacific is the leading telecommunications operator in six Pacific countries and has been working with O3b since July 2013 in Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Nauru. This upgrade is a direct response to significant growth in internet usage throughout these countries due to Digicel’s upgraded and enhanced 3G/4G mobile network featuring the high-throughput, low latency O3b connection.
By upgrading with O3b, Digicel Pacific has been able to further take advantage of the O3b Networks Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite network to bring its customers new and more affordable data packages. Since the launch of these new packages on 5 April 2016, the company has already seen a significant increase in PNG customers logging on for data usage.
Growth in data usage across the Pacific means increasing opportunities for small business growth, tele-medicine, e-learning, tourism, e-government services, and consumer communications, and is strategically important to Digicel. In addition to the new data plan structure, the company plans to continue to drive data use by increasing smart phone penetration, creating local digital infrastructure, and creating local content and on-line communities.
“This is an exciting time for O3b, Digicel and its customers in the Pacific,” said Steve Collar, CEO of O3b Networks. “The need for this upgrade shows how hungry consumers are for affordable and quality connectivity. It is not only a sign of healthy economic growth for the region, but also offers promise to other remote locations for similar economic advancement.”
“Digicel is looking to promote data usage over the next two years, so offering aggressive data plans, and having a high-performance connection to deliver on those plans, is absolutely essential,” said Michael Murphy, CEO of Digicel Pacific. “Existing customers in PNG who have not been using data are finding the new O3b-enabled data packages affordable, and usage has already seen a big jump.”
About O3b Networks Limited
O3b Networks Limited is a global satellite service provider operating a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system combines the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber‐optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low‐cost, high‐speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks’ investors include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.
About Digicel Group
Digicel Group Limited (Digicel) is a leading provider of communications services in 31 markets in the Caribbean and South Pacific regions, where the company provides a comprehensive range of Mobile Communications, Business Solutions, Cable TV & Broadband and other related products and services to retail, corporate (including small- and medium-sized enterprises) and government customers.
Digicel offers HSPA+ or long-term evolution (LTE) mobile technology (4G) in 30 markets and holds the number one mobile market position in 21 markets, with a mobile subscriber market share of more than 50% in 20 markets, as determined by internal company data.
Digicel launched mobile services in Jamaica, its first market, in 2001 and became the market leader there within 15 months of launch, based on a strategy that Digicel has since replicated successfully in several other markets. Digicel’s mobile subscriber base has grown from 0.4 million as of March 31, 2002 to 13.6 million subscribers as of March 31, 2015, representing a compound annual growth rate of 32.3%.
Digicel runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programs. Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.
For more information, visit www.digicelgroup.com.