Avanti Communications Group (Avanti) has signed a new contract with South Africa’s Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (FABCOS) and its new major business incubator programme, Microtelco e-ncubator
Delivered via funding from South Africa's department of trade and industry, the partnership will provide high speed satellite broadband to more than 1,000 small and medium sized enterprises. The programme will be deployed extensively to businesses setting up in some of the remotest parts of South Africa, reaching a number of key sectors including retail, finance and agriculture.
“Working hand-in-hand with FABCOS, its incubator and the South African government, this contract will deliver vital connectivity and training to the hundreds of businesses for whom broadband will power growth,” said David Williams, Avanti's CEO.
Delivery of resilient broadband connectivity underpins the South African government’s business growth strategy. FABCOS’s Microtelco e-ncubator programme specifically nurtures small telecommunications companies, for which connectivity is a vital part of day to day operations.
“Access to broadband has become as important as any other utility for businesses here to succeed. Indeed, it is an integral part of our incubation offering to our members,” said Alan Campbell, national treasurer general at FABCOS.
Avanti has a satellite, Hylas 2, that covers large parts of Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi. Another satellite, Hylas 3, will start commercial services in 2016 and Hylas 4 will be launched in 2017. That will complete Avanti’s coverage of sub-Saharan Africa.
Financial details about the contract have not been disclosed.
