A re-usable rocket from Elon Musk's firm SpaceX is set to launch a satellite that will beam the internet to remote parts of the Pacific.
Artists impression of Kacific-1 satellite over the Pacific. Photo: Supplied
About the size of a double decker bus, the satellite is being made by Boeing and will be operated by the Singapore based company Kacific Broadband Satellites.
Spokesperson Adrian Potter said the satellite would reach parts of the Pacific that undersea cables could not.
"When the cable lands in Fiji, for instance, it only lands in one place in Fiji. There are hundreds of other islands that are not connected to that cable and houses on the main island where the cable lands that aren't even connected," said Mr Potter.
"Our satellite will actually connect those homes without any terrestrial infrastructure. All you need is a small dish and a modem and you have connectivity."
Mr Potter said so far contracts have been signed for the satellite to send the internet to 10 Pacific countries and territories, including Kiribati and French Polynesia.
