IPSTAR SNG

It's one of the IPSTAR SNG demo unit that I had seen at Thaicom's HQ in Thailand.

The second picture below shows the details of what's inside.

Basically, it contains the encoder, decoder, modulator, old type of IPSTAR modem for broadband applications - video streaming.

This time, IPSTAR sales guys usually recommend to their clients to use SkyEdge II - IP modem for a much better performance for their streaming applications.

For broadcast applications, Ericsson brand for encoder, decoder, modulator, etc. are recommended to the clients.

IPSTAR technical guys in coordination with other suppliers of other brands for SNG equipment were also doing POC to find out whether or not their product is working perfectly with IPSTAR satellite technology.

Everyone is hoping that the POC results were positive so these other brands could also be recommended to their clients for the cost of it is much better than Ericsson.

IPSTAR SOLAR POWERED VSAT

This is one of the VSAT solutions IPSTAR team had installed in Tacloban through its service partner - AZComm.

It's a solar powered IPSTAR VSAT which was the only possible solution that time right after typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. typhoon Yolanda) devastated Tacloban.

It helped Eastern Visayas State University in its IP based communications in and out of Tacloban via the Internet through IPSTAR broadband satellite.

The other photo below is a closer look of a similar set-up but in another area and using a smaller antenna size -0.84 meter.

Both of the set-ups provided a very stable, reliable, efficient and fast Internet connection.

This is the solution that could also be offered to the remote areas where there's no Internet and power supply.

Connectivity Problem in the Philippines

The Philippine Government is now very determined to address this very long standing problem that the country had been and still suffering of until this moment.

By the end of this month, May, 2017, there would be an opening of bids initiated by DICT. Just hoping that this new people of this department will think prudently when deciding who would be qualified to implement this very big connectivity project.

If the filtering process for the bidders begins immediately at the start of the process of finding the right service provider who will implement this massive project, then chances are that there would be no repeat failure that this DICT will experience this time.

However, if the decision makers will omit this important process and is guided or influenced by a promised of personal benefits they could get from any of the bidders they facilitate, then expect that a huge problem would happen again.

So, decision makers who will be responsible to awarding the connectivity project to the truly trustworthy service provider should study carefully who these participating bidders are.

Checking and scrutinizing their individual backgrounds, especially in those previous failed connectivity projects or other government projects, would be one of the things that could help them minimize the chance of making this project to be a failure again, if their decisions are referred and based to it.

So, the plan to start filtering the participating bidders from that kind of qualifications background check is, I believed would be a very important and prudent step to make.

The Real Reason Why Telcos Are Not Serious About Improving Internet Connectivity Speed in the Philippines

I read an article posted in the Internet with one of the big telcos saying that the reason why they could not establish the needed infrastructure is the permitting issues that takes several months or home owners not allowing them to put up the telecom infrastructures because of the radiation issues which is the main concerns of the home owners.

The same reasons they had presented during one of the Summit meetings they had this year, and the same story they had presented in Facebook.

However, one reliable source had mentioned that the real reason is not really those things they kept on saying to brainwash the people.

The guy said that if the Internet speed in the Philippines improves significantly, then it will kill the big telcos' business in voice communications. It's because, by then, people will call their friends or business partners, clients using IP based applications, such as Skype, Line, Messenger, Viber, etc.

So, why do things that will kill their existing lucrative business? After analyzing the situation with all those facts, I realized that what the guy said make sense.

Thus, the government has to do something to stop this and deprive those greedy people behind it to continue their injustices by depriving people of a much better Internet service.

One of the IPSTAR MVV Components

Below picture shows one of the components of the IPSTAR Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV).

Most of the previous posts about IPSTAR MVV shows only the external part or the outdoor unit which is composed of the 1.2-meter auto tracking antenna, BUC, LNB, etc.

This post shows the internal part of the MVV components with the brand name as indicated. In just one push of the button, in about 10 minutes, you will able to connect to the Internet.

With this set-up, IPSTAR proprietary modem (called iCON) with a throughput of 4Mbps download/2Mbps upload is used. However, modem from Gilat, like SkyEdge II-IP could also be used for higher download requirement.

POC for PTV 4

It's IPSTAR team's POC for PTV4 broadcast business using IPSTAR spot beams.

The test was very successful and the concept about IPSTAR spot beam technology was proven efficient, stable and reliable.

The team had gained much more confidence of what they proclaimed about IPSTAR ku-band technology. It was so because, during the POC, the cloud was very thick and dark and then a while later, rains came down while the POC was still ongoing and there was no problem.

Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV) for Streaming Applications

The vehicle at the background is a Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV) used by one clients IPSTAR client's end user doing media business.

Their media team covers important live events and streaming it to their partner's server where anybody could access via the Internet.

This client is using this technology for about four years now and so far, so good.

This same technology will be donated by foreign donors to the select LGUs and will be handed over to the DILG through its new appointed Secretary.

Satellite on the Move (SOTM)

It's the photo of one of the banners showing IPSTAR Satellite on the Move (SOTM) displayed in Tacloban during the event dedicated to gather important people and decision makers to discuss what they've learned on that unforgettable disaster brought by a typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a., typhoon Yolanda) which devastated the area and what they need to do to minimize casualties and how to responds effectively when that kind of disaster will happen again or at any emergency situation.

The technology was displayed to give people ideas how useful it is especially during emergency situation where there is a need to move while communicating: streaming live video contents, photos of the affected area, IP based voice communications, data transfer, and etc.

Below are the most important feature of this IPSTAR SOTM

- Always on & Seamless Connectivity

- Reliable Communication

- Nationwide Coverage

- IP Compatible

- Flexibility on bandwidth usage

- Easy installation & simple operation

Romantis - SCPC Modem

It's one of the modems that is compatible and is proven working excellently well with IPSTAR ground and satellite technology.

Using it with 1.8-meter antenna and a 2-watt BUC, it could accommodate a return speed (upload) of 12 Mbps and a forward speed (download) of 74 Mbps with a bandwidth occupancy of 6.25 MHz and 38.09 MHz for the return and forward links, respectively.

If it's used with a 4-watt BUC, then it would allow a return speed (upload) of 24 Mbps and a forward speed (download) of 62 Mbps with a bandwidth occupancy of 12.5 MHz and 31.86 MHz for the return and forward links, respectively.

It's one of the two modems used in one the very important events in Tacloban a year after the typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. typhoon Yolanda) devastated the area.

Romantis modem is a Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) type of modem. So, two modems (pairs) are needed in the communication link. One pair has to be installed at the remote site and the other one will be installed at the IPSTAR gateway.

Satellite Service Adviser

This is the person who could provide more satellite service advises to those who has a digital service or connectivity projects.

He's been working in the company for 10 years already gaining a very huge experience in different aspects of the satellite and telecommunications business, such as in sales and marketing and in the technical matters.

For more than six years, he handled Thaicom's satellite business in Africa, Middle East and Europe and traveled to countries such as Egypt, Dubai, South Africa, Ethiopia, Somalia, Netherland, China, and Singapore while based in Bangkok, Thailand.

He managed big accounts like RRSAT, and closed business deals with private and government clients at Hargiesa, Somaliland, like the Somaliland National Television (SLNTV).

He's the one also who had closed a very big business deal for Telecommunication business in Central Africa, but deal was sealed in Cairo, Egypt.

After expiring a 10 year agreement with a Korean TV Channel, he was able to renew service for another five years.

In 2013, he was transferred to his home country, the Philippines to help his team there doing Thaicom's IPSTAR Broadband business in the country.

Thaicom Innovation Day

I visited Thaicom HQ last year (2016) and had witnessed of the so many innovative ideas.

Every team who got innovative ideas showed their product and explained it to all visitors who were interested to know more about the innovative idea which was translated into a demo product.

One of the innovation that I was very interested at was about Digital Mobility.

The whole idea is the continuous communications system network using satellite and combination of other communication media that will enable anyone to communicate anytime, anywhere, using any digital devices wherever he/she may be; in the land, subway, sea, air, home, office, etc.

It has four main features such as capability, Reliability, Efficiency and Low-Cost Antenna.

It is capable of the following:

1. Internet and TV service,

2. On Demand VDO

3. Watch owned preferred contents

4. Support current Media On Demand system on vehicle

For reliability, it will ensure the following:

1. Always connected

2. Content Recovery after rain and

3. OTA support

The system is considered efficient for it can assure us of the following:

1. Lower risk to congest other Internet services

2. Lower risk to overload Web Servers and it

3. Support rating

It is considered low cost because it will use Mobile SAT and lightweight antenna.

Testing IPSTAR Spot Beams for Broadcast

It's one of the tests we had done for our IPSTAR spot beams for broadcast applications.

The purpose of the test was to determine the exact latency by comparing the time difference between the source audio/video that was uplinked to IPSTAR satellite and the audio/video of the received signal.

The result was quite impressive; the audio/video received was excellent and the latency was only about 2 seconds.

According to the client, it's acceptable for their planned cockfighting business.

So, we had proven that IPSTAR spot beam technology worked as expected.

Many more similar tests requested from another potential clients had followed in the next year (2014) and not long enough, deal was closed.

Now, there are three or four clients doing that kind of business using IPSTAR technology solution.

Because of the success of those who started with that kind of business, many more potential client were also inquiring the details of setting up the same solution, though the contents would be somewhat different.

Part of their plans is to use a Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV) so they could move quickly from one event to another without the hassles of installing and dismantling the equipment.

Business deal is expected to be done within this month.

Today's Satellite Service Inquiry

Just want to share below's conversations between the service provider and the potential client for the purpose of giving you ideas about the satellite service offered by the satellite service provider - IPSTAR.

Hi Sir,

Please, see my answers (in red texts) to you questions below:

• Is your service available in any area in the Philippines?

Answers: For our Ku-Band satellite service, only 95% of the Philippine area is covered. But, for our C-Band, yes, any area is covered (100 % coverage).

• What equipment is needed to connect to your service and will you provide it and install it for us if we subscribe?

Answer: VSAT equipment set is needed to be installed at your location for you to be able to use our service. You need to purchase the needed equipment. Below are the details of the equipments:

SkyEdge-II IP set
• 1 piece of Antenna 1.2 m Ku-Band (at least 2.4 m for C-Band)
• OMT/FEED Ku-Band
• BUC 2-Watt Ku-Band
• LNB Ku-Band
• AC power adaptor & power cable
• Antenna base support
• Coaxial cable (RG6 or RG11)
• Connectors
• Electrical Tape
• Cable/Zip Tie
• IP Modem

• If we need more than 5Mbps, can we subscribe to 2 plans in one location and simply load balance them?

Answer: That's doable Sir, but more expensive in terms of equipment cost for you have to buy to sets of VSAT equipments. How much Mbps do you plan to subscribe? We have a modem capable of 1 Mbps upload and 6 Mbps download and another one, capable of 2 Mbps upload and 12 Mbps download

• Does your service have a bandwidth volume cap/ceiling?

Answer: No Sir. Our service has NO CAP. It's unlimited data service.

• Will there be any problems with your service if there is bad or cloudy/rainy weather?

Answer: No Sir, except for changing of the initial modulation used to another type, which normally causes to decrease the speed for a little bit in order to keep the link alive instead of cutting it off completely.

• Do you provide a static or dynamic IP? Is the IP address you provide with the service a public or private IP?

Answer: Yes. we provide static IP addresses and one (1) Public address per site. Or, if you need more Public addresses, then that could also be arranged

• Do we pay a local business for the monthly fees or do we need to wire payment to Thailand every month?

Answer: You can send your payment locally, through our service provider partner.

Hope this would help. Should you have any other questions or other concern, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Thank you very much.

IPSTAR in Action in Tacloban Immediately a Day After Typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. Typhoon Yolanda) Devastated the Area

Below are two of the pictures showing IPSTAR connectivity solution provided to the DSWD and PTV 4 response teams providing IP based communications link between the response team in Tacloban and their HQ in Metro Manila via Skype, Viber,e-mail and etc.

A day before the calamity happens, a team from DSWD arranged meeting with IPSTAR team and AZComm - one of the IPSTAR's service providers partners in the Philippines.

There in the meeting, everything, such as purchase of VSAT equipment, satellite and Internet bandwidths reservation, logistics and manpower was arranged.

As expected, all telcos' telecommunication networks infrastructures were totally devastated and none of them could provide help for the communications in the affected area for several weeks.

So, it's the IPSTAR connectivity solution that saved the very difficult situation in Tacloban since the first day until several weeks later after the devastating typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the area.

It provided Internet service to the victim and the DSWD staffs, volunteers and emergency response teams from different organizations.

Few days later, other emergency response team from Broadcast Network like PTV 4, had also utilized IPSTAR connectivity service.

IPSTAR Emergency Response and Recovery Communications System Set-up

The Philippine government should consider Thaicom's IPSTAR technology for its National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC)'s disaster preparations.

Below picture shows IPSTAR Emergency Response and Recovery Communications System set-up which had been proven very effective in other countries, like Thailand, Myanmar, Japan and etc.

Everybody is hoping that the new Philippine government would be much aggressive enough to implement this kind of solution even before any calamities or disaster strikes the country.

Details of how the whole system works will be seen clearly by clicking the picture.

POC of Our MVV and Fixed VSAT at One of the Broadcast Networks in the Philippines

This is one of the Proof-of-Concepts (POC) we did to one the broadcast networks in the Philippines about two years ago.

Everything went well and our Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV) equipped with all the needed broadcast equipment using IPSTAR technology works as expected.

And because of that POC, we got a project from the person connected with another company who witnessed how our system works and was inspired of it. For about two years already, they still doing their business using our system with IPSTAR broadband technology solution,

We're expecting more will be coming through donors from Japan and Germany.

The plan is to donate them to the selected Local Government Units which are in the strategic location that could enable them to respond quickly in times of calamities or any disaster that will strike the country to provide communication links between the affected area and the outside world.

Solar Powered VSAT

Solar powered IPSTAR VSAT which was proven effective and efficient most especially in the very remote areas where any power source was not available.

Most of the remotes sites that has no power source opt to use this complete IPSTAR VSAT solution.

It's the same solution we had provided in one of the State Universities in the Philippines which was badly affected by the devastating typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. typhoon Yolanda) in Tacloban.

It was really a great help for people in that University which provides communication means to communicate with the outside world giving them updates of the status of the affected area even in the absence of the power source and the telcos basic services.

Apart from that donation in the form of Internet connectivity service, TC/IPSTAR had also handed financial donations to the Red-Cross and DSWD.

That's how helpful the IPSTAR Company was during that difficult times of the Filipino people. Hope the Philippine government will reciprocate it one day.

Some Ways to Secure Client's VSAT Outdoor Unit

The pictures below show some ways to securing VSAT outdoor unit of the client.

The first picture depicts a solution of the school to secure its VSAT outdoor unit from any curious student who might touch or move it accidentally or intentionally.

This is one of the best solutions for a crowded places where the VSAT should be installed. Other possible solution is to put the VSAT on top of a building or any stable structure that could hold it firmly.

The second picture depicts a solution that is best for site locations which normally floods during rainy seasons.

One of our clients put his unit on top of the structure where his water tank is setting on.

Other clients use 6 to 10 feet steel pole to extend the height of the VSAT from the ground to secure it from the flood and from any intentional or accidental touching or moving.

Any solution for as long as it won't create blockage of the line-of-sight (LOS) between the VSAT antenna dish and the satellite in the sky, would be acceptable.

After gathering all the needed facts about the site location through site survey and interview, our team could recommend the best solution to securing the VSAT outdoor unit.

POC OF IPSTAR BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY VIA SATELLITE FOR PGMC

Another successful Proof-of-Concept (POC) of IPSTAR broadband Internet connectivity via Thaicom-4 (a.k.a., IPSTAR) satellite for the Philippine Gaming Management Corporation (PGMC).

After about few days of setting up all the needed equipment, such as GPRS, POS equipment of PGMC and the needed routing activities, and the common schedules of all the teams involved (IPSTAR, EDGECOMM, INC. and PGMC teams) finally, the most awaited POC results had been achieved.

As highly anticipated, we had proven to the client that our connectivity solution via satellite will really work.

We are now waiting from PGMC's advise on the schedule of when to start the deployment of the initial 20 plus sites in Luzon area.

Good news, we also had confirmation from our technical team that Coron, Palawan, Philippines is well covered by our IPSTAR satellite spot beams.

So, our concern about other sites in Palawan is now confirmed solved.

If PGMC will win on the bidding from PCSO for the connectivity of the lotto franchise in the Visayas and Mindanao areas, then more sites will be added on the said initial sites, hopefully, starting this year also.

Digital Life Solution for Education

Good news for the education sector of the country covered by Thaicom 4 (a.k.a., IPSTAR) for Thaicom PLC's innovative technological solution is now ready for deployment.

Digital Life product highlight are summarized into three categories, such as Capability, Efficiency and Reliability.

Reliability means that, even if the terrestrial networks fails, Digital Life solution is always connected. Lost contents due to rain will be recovered when rain is gone. It's reliable because of it has OTA support feature.

Digital Life technology solution is efficient and it has a lower risk to congest other Internet services and lower risk to overload VDO/Web servers because VDO contents are stored locally. It's compatible with any Internet applications.

It's capable of the following: On Demand VDO which cause no impact to the Internet speed, watch on preferred contents via mobile devices, support rating and interactives and etc.

IPSTAR MVV

MVV stands for Mobile VSAT Vehicle, and VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal.

It's one of TC/IPSTAR products that is being marketed in many countries in the the Asia Pacific where Thaicom 4 (a.k.a. IPSTAR) has coverage.

It's the same technology and solution that the Japanese and German donors are going to donate to the Philippine government.

Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was supposed to happen last April 19, 2017. However, due to an unforeseen event that happened, the scheduled event was moved to another date which has to be announced yet.

IPSTAR MVV is a very important and useful technology which can be used in any event, especially in the area hit by any disaster or calamity, providing connectivity to the people and to the emergency response team.

It can also be useful for any broadcast network team to communicating its headquarters.

Broadcast network staffs in the field could take photos of the situation of the devastated area and then send it to HQ which in turns broadcast it to all its audience.

Alternatively, live video footage of the affected area and the actual situations of the victims could be streamed live to the HQ.

It could provide as high as 74 Mbps download and 12 Mbps upload using 1.8 meter antenna, 2-Watt BUC and an SCPC satellite modem called Romantis with the following details below:

UHP-1R1-SCPC : UHP-1000 DVB-S2 standard SCPC Router (QPSK, 8PSK), also supports STAR Mode.

IPSTAR POC at the Calasiao I Central School

It's one of the IPSTAR POCs in Pangasinan province and this time at Calasiao I Central School.

It was here that EDGECOMM, INC.'s team gived a detailed presentation of the IPSTAR technology using Gilat SkyEdge II- IP modem and its actual demonstration of how this VSAT system works with Internet connectivity, to more than 100 principals and ICT officers from different schools in Pangasinan province.

After all the POCs in the province of Pangasinan, it took us around half of the year to start commercializing our service.

Fortunately, when it's started, it continued until this time and it has spread to other provinces in the Visayan region. One example is in Masbate, where EDGECOMM, INC. had installed almost a hundred sites for schools under DepEd.

We were surprised when one of the construction companies in Metro Manila has tested our service for about a month, now six of their sites are using our broadband Internet service using IPSTAR broadband satellite.

The owner of this construction company is very satisfied with our service.

IPSTAR POC at SAMPALOC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL - PANGASINAN

This is one of the five POC sites in the province of Pangasinan where EDGECOMM, INC. was finally convinced of the capability and effectiveness of the IPSTAR technology and it's newly adapted Gilat SkyEge II-IP satellite modem.

The area, where the Sampaloc National High School is located was known to be a dead spot for both major telcos' coverage and everybody who're not familiar with satellite technology, thought that it would be impossible to get Internet connection there.

However, when the VSAT start operating, and the ICT person in-charged in that school start accessing Youtube video contents while everyone was watching, they were amazed at what they had seen, and it was then that EDGECOMM INC., President & CEO had finally decided to proceed with his connectivity business using IPSTAR satellite and Gilat SkyEdge II-IP.

Now, EDGECOMM INC., one of the service provider partners of THAICOM PLC., owner of IPSTAR technology, a satellite operator and telecommunication service provider based in Thailand, starts harvesting the fruits they had planted about three year ago.

So far, they are now providing, operating, managing, maintaining broadband Internet connectivity via IPSTAR broadband satellite using Gilat SkyEdge II-IP for their government and private clients such as, schools under DepEd, Mining, construction, resort and banking industries and many more are lining up waiting for the completion of the current POCs for the potential clients.

If the Philippine government is really serious about solving the digital divide issues in the country, then connectivity via satellite is the most effective, efficient, reliable and secured solution, and the fastest solution that could be deployed.

Economically, if IPSTAR satellite is used, then the cost issues will surely be addressed. It's the cheapest among all the available satellite capacity as of this writing. The main reason behind is that IPSTAR is a broadband satellite with a total capacity of 45Gbps, which is equivalent to about 20 conventional satellites which has a capacity of only 1 to 2 Gbps per satellite.

Connectivity for Banking Industries

In the Philippines, Internet connectivity is a very long-standing problem in every business industry. One of the sectors that is so affected by the problem is the banking industry.

It's so frustrating seeing ATM machines off-line not only in the big business establishments, but even at the airport. It's the very reason why central bank in the Philippines was giving it's directive to this business sector to provide secondary link on its existing connectivity to avoid or minimize this kind of problem - offline due to connectivity issue on its ATM machines.

Now, there's a solution which was proven effective not only in the Philippines, but also to other countries where IPSTAR has a coverage.

In the Philippines, it's used by UnionBank, and this client is very happy for it immediately resume it's service after a typhoon hit Bicol region and devastated the telecommunications infrastructures there.

It's the same technology used by the same bank when typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. typhoon Yolanda) devastated Tacloban.

The secondary link that banking industries needs to provide should be via satellite, like Thaicom-4, a.k.a., IPSTAR. It has a built-in security features (IPSEC) that will address security issues banking industries are concerned about.

POC for Internet Connectivity at HITACHI CABLE - Lima, Batangas, Philippines

It's a Poof-of-Concept (POC) at Hitachi Cable - Lima Batangas, Philippines. Of the three bidders, two of IPSTAR service provider partners had joined the bidding, but only one of them (EDGECOMM, INC.) had used VSAT; the other two, used IP radio for Internet connectivity for the client.

Each company was then required to demonstrate their individual Internet service to be offered.

Due the the new policy at the PEZA in Lima Batangas where the company is located, the third bidder took so much time to demonstrate their service for it took them so much time to produce the required documents.

However, it's about three months now, HITACHI hadn't sent us yet any notice of what had happened, or who won the bidding.

EDGECOMM, INC. is still hoping to win the bidding. It's CEO said that VSAT is the best solution to client's requirement because it could be deployed quickly and it would take only about two hours to complete the installation, and the Internet connection would then be ready immediately.

IPSTAR POC at BOLINAO PANGASINAN - 2014

Bolinao is one of the locations in Pangasinan we did our POC for DepEd connectivity projects for government schools - Elementary and High Schools.

Our great effort to restore the name of IPSTAR had encountered lots of resistance from those schools who had not had a good experience from one of our service provider partners who provided them bad service.

Knowing that IPSTAR technology is one of the best broadband technologies in the world, we have to prove to them, that it's not the technology that cause them the problem, but it's how the service was provided.

Fortunately, after the demo, the ruined IPSTAR name was restored. Thanks to Gilat SkyEdge II-IP modem, it helped a lot in our explanations. Thanks to our team and EDGECOMM, INC.'s team for the great job done.

CUTTING-EDGE BROADBAND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

IPSTAR and EDGECOMM, INC., one of its service provider partners in the Philippines is providing a cutting-edge broadband satellite technology for

anytime and anywhere connectivity. It could be fixed in a certain location for its communications need. Mobile units are also available for a certain specific requirement.

It's good for any remote locations which are not served or underserved by any of the major telcos. It's the medium of communication which central bank is referring to for it's policy for banking industries to have a secondary link. Primary link could be from any of the major telcos' fiber line link and secondary link should be via satellite.

It make sense, for during typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. typhoon Yolanda), all the telcos infrastructures in the most badly affected areas in Tacloban were all totally devastated. So, even a month after the disaster, people were still lining up in just one ATM in a certain bank to withdraw their money in Boracay area which was also lightly affected by the same typhoon Yolanda.

THAICOM INNOVATION DAY 6-7, JULY 2016

There lots of interesting innovative ideas shown during the Thaicom Innovation Day (6-7, July 2016) last year.

Some of them are already in existence, but some modifications had been made to fit the needs and some are really new. And one of my favorite is the Place and Play Broadband Anywhere as you can see in the picture below. It's a hybrid of the two known technologies: 3G Internet for the uplink or upload part and satellite (IPSTAR) for downlink or download. One important and interesting feature of this innovation is, it will use a light weight of whole component of the equipment and fully portable which is capable of receiving information at the speed of 45Mbps. With just one push of the button, it will automatically acquire Thaicom 4 satellite (a.k.a. IPSTAR).

It's an excellent product for rapid deployment. It's ready for service in just one and a half minutes (90 seconds). It's very useful for communication in emergency response after a calamity or a disaster.

For TV streaming using Android and iOS, it the has the following capability:

- Download via satellite with speed of up to 45Mbps
- Live
- Time shift (Max 2 hours backward replay of live program

So far, there's no information yet of how much it would cost to produce or to acquire a unit of this technology.

In my opinion, it would be much better if the 3G component would be out of the picture to make sure that even during or immediately after a natural disaster, like the case of typhoon Haiayan (a.k.a. Typhoon Yolanda) which badly devastated Tacloban and for about a month, there's no telecommunication infrastructure had left standing. Thus, for about a month or more, no 3G service in the affected areas in Tacloban.

Proof-of-Concept (POC) at UP Diliman and UP Manila

This was the day when EDGECOMM INC. team and WIT team were doing the POC and product & service demonstrations for their connectivity solution offered to UP Diliman and UP Manila team and some delegates from the USA who were collaborating for the project related to TeleHealth Center Services to be extended to the people living in the remote areas in the Philippines.

According to plan, and God willing, the project implementation will be in November, 2017. In the meantime, the UP team is still waiting for the results of the survey they're conducting to determine which of the UP campuses are in need of a connectivity via satellite using the latest and most advanced VSAT technology of THAICOM/IPSTAR and GILAT SkyEdge II-IP.