Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) will be utilizing Cignal’s VSAT technology in providing broadband connectivity to far-flung areas. To date, Cignal’s VSAT (very small aperture terminal) service is active in select cell sites across the Philippines.

“This partnership is aligned with our mission to address the national clamor for better broadband connectivity and giving access to quality (and uninterrupted) entertainment to the nation,” said Robert Galang, president and CEO of Cignal. “We are hopeful that through our VSAT broadband service, and this joint effort with SMART, we are able to ease the lives of Filipinos moving forward.”

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The need for internet connectivity in remote areas has never been more pronounced than during the pandemic. Schools shifted to the online platform to help curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Industry analyst firm Gartner defines VSAT as “a small-sized earth station used in the transmit/receive of data, voice and video signals over a satellite communication network, excluding broadcast television. A VSAT consists of two parts: a transceiver placed outdoors in direct line of sight to the satellite, and a device that is placed indoors to interface the transceiver with the end user’s communications device, such as a PC.”

Cignal is a Pay-TV and Direct-To-Home satellite services provider.