Intelsat SA, a satellite telcom company, and Vodacom Mozambique have signed an agreement for satellite solutions, to provide 3G services and meet the growing demand for data in the tourism industry
As part of a multi-year agreement with Vodacom International, Intelsat has upgraded a network operated by Vodacom Mozambique using the Intelsat EpicNG high-throughput satellite platform.
The solution will provide 3G services to Pomene, in southern Mozambique. Pomene has become an important tourist destination for the country, and as it attracts more visitors and cruise ships, the mobile network infrastructure had to be upgraded quickly and cost-effectively to meet the increased demand.
Intelsat was able to address all of Vodacom Mozambique’s concerns in terms of improving the network capabilities and delivering a better connectivity experience in a cost-effective manner – thanks to Intelsat EpicNG’s higher performance and better economics.
Intelsat's service proved to be efficient, and Vodacom Mozambique was able to expand its network to cover tourist lodges in Pomene, unlocking the operator’s new revenue stream.
Basilio Pereira, executive head of transmission, Vodacom Mozambique, said, “At first, we believed the only way to upgrade our network to deliver 3G services was with an expensive terrestrial solution.”
“Working with Intelsat, we were shown how the improved efficiency and throughput of Intelsat EpicNG could meet our needs better than a terrestrial option. In addition, we were able to expand our reach, grow our subscriber base and meet our growth objectives due to the lower total cost of ownership,” Pereira added.
Brian Jakins, Intelsat’s regional vice-president, Africa sales, noted, “The performance of Intelsat EpicNG is delivering unprecedented power and efficiency to telecom infrastructure providers.”
“We have combined the traditional strengths of satellite, such as reach and ubiquity, with a new approach that delivers improved economics for mobile network operators. This helps our customers deliver a 3G experience within the constraints of their budgets, and as with the case with Vodacom Mozambique, help them unlock new business opportunities that they had not been able to take advantage of previously,” Jakins concluded.
