Vodafone announced connectivity in the Cook Islands would be bolstered to 4G+ after signing a deal with SES to tap into the company’s new range of satellites.
The operator will deliver services through second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system O3b mPOWER which is expected to come into commercial service in Q3 2023.
SES is bringing satellites into operation in phases with the first two launching on Friday (Dec 16) evening from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
SES detailed in a press release Vodafone will be able to deliver “multi-gigabit per second connectivity”, leveraging SES’s satellite backhaul service to provide increased access to online services in health, education, banking, and commerce for the residents, giving the islands’ tourism a significant boost.
Vodafone will also launch its expanded connectivity to the outer islands such as Manihiki. The operator first tapped into SES satellite technology in 2015 to deliver 3G/4G services to the remote nation.
Other customers of SES’ satellite technology include Microsoft, Princess Cruises, Marlink, Jio Platforms, Orange, Claro Brasil.
Vodafone Cooks Islands CEO Phillipe Henderson said the new generation satellites will aid the operator in improving connectivity in the outer islands and “further contribute to the islands’ socio-economic growth.”
SES CEO Steve Collar added: “Whether we are enabling governments to carry out critical missions securely, cruise operators to provide high-speed broadband access to passengers at all times, or mobile network operators to deploy 4G/5G networks in under-connected areas or restore communications networks in down time, O3b mPOWER is the satellite system of choice for applications where performance matters most.”
