Tuvalu. Photo: Lily-Anne Homasi DFAT.

[Via Satellite 04-29-2015] Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has signed an agreement with Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TTC), the state-owned telecommunications provider for the island nation of Tuvalu, for capacity on the ABS 6 satellite. The five-year agreement provides C-band capacity from the satellite’s A beam for high speed broadband to schools, banks, hospitals, and IP backhaul for its mobile network. TTC enables communications between the islands — comprised of six atolls and three reef islands — and the rest of the world, primarily by satellite. The deal with ABS is also to ensure communications during natural disasters. The nation’s telecommunications infrastructure suffered damage during the recent passage of Cyclone Pam.

“The need for communications is very important to our economy and our people. We are endeavored to ensure that all the Island’s communications needs are constantly available as this is especially vital in emergency situations like cyclones and disasters. This connectivity on ABS 6 will boost our Internet bandwidth capability,” said Anisi Panitusi, COO of TTC.