SpeedCast Signs Contract with O3b Networks for Trunking Service to Christmas Island

O3b Networks has announced an agreement to provide trunking services to SpeedCast for its customer Christmas Island Internet Administration Limited (CIIA), the only Internet Service Provider (ISP) on Christmas Island.

O3b Networks is also showcasing some of its latest innovations at the ongoing ICT mega event CommunicAsia 2015 in Singapore.

As part of this agreement, SpeedCast will provide CIIA with high throughput, low latency connectivity, enabling the first broadband Internet access experienced on the island.

Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean with an approximate population of 2100 people, is geographically close to Indonesia. The island earned its unique name by being discovered on the 25th of December, 1643 by Captain William Mynors of the British Royal Navy, and is famous for its 135 square km Australian National Park.

Christmas Island Internet Administration Limited (CIIA) is a community-owned, non-profit Christmas Island Company which owns and operates the only not-for-profit ISP in the territory. Until now, CIIA has been relying on geostationary satellite (GEO) connectivity for internet access, also provided by SpeedCast.

The use of O3b satellites, which are closer to the earth than GEO satellites, reduces latency, increases internet speed and improves voice and video quality for the user. CIIA will be using O3b’s next-generation IP trunking solution, O3bTrunk, that boosts existing link capacities to rival the throughput and latency of terrestrial fiber, while avoiding the prohibitive cost of laying an undersea cable to the island.

"SpeedCast is pleased to be offering O3b's unique satellite solution which will greatly enhance the service that CIIA is currently using today. We anticipate a dramatic improvement in performance with a 3 fold increase in capacity and a 75% reduction in latency," said Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO of SpeedCast. "Our customer, CIIA, will be able to offer their end-users the best Internet connection available, further cementing their position as the ISP of choice for all of Christmas Island."

"Because Christmas Island does not have an undersea cable, but relies completely on satellite for communication, only O3b can provide the throughput needed to bring true broadband to subscribers,” said Imran Malik, VP Asia for O3b Networks. "We are very excited to bring our high throughput, low latency solution to Christmas Island via SpeedCast, and expect residents will see an immediate improvement in their internet experience.”