Satellite

Eutelsat OneWeb trains local partners in Africa to accelerate the rollout of its LEO satellite network, boosting high-speed internet access. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Eutelsat OneWeb is expanding its footprint in Africa, advancing its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service to provide high-speed, low-latency internet across Angola, Botswana, and Zimbabwe

As part of its efforts, the company has been training local partners on the cutting-edge LEO technology in preparation for the network’s rollout.

Recently, Eutelsat OneWeb conducted a training session at the NEC XON facility in Midrand, South Africa, where its technical experts hosted representatives from Dandemutande Investments Private Limited, TelOne Zimbabwe, and Paratus Group. The session was designed to demonstrate the network’s capabilities and equip partners with the skills needed for user terminal installations, ensuring smooth service delivery across the region.

This initiative reflects Eutelsat OneWeb’s dedication to fostering local expertise as its LEO network becomes available. By empowering partners with in-depth knowledge of LEO technology, the company aims to accelerate the deployment of its satellite-based internet, improving connectivity for underserved communities and businesses throughout Africa.

AMN is dedicated its vision of a fully connected world. (Image source: AMN)

Africa Mobile Networks, a group of companies with a vision of building mobile network base stations serving rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa, has utilised SpaceX’s Starlink constellation to provide satellite backhaul at more than 100 of its rural base stations in Nigeria

On average, traffic has increased by approximately 45% across all sites that have been migrated to use LEO backhaul and the organisation expects to double the number of sites using the constellation by the end of the year.

By using Starlink’s LEO constellation to provide mobile backhaul, AMN is able to unlock the full capability of the AMN Radio Node (ARN) to support the ever-increasing amounts of bandwidth and data volumes demanded by subscribers.

The flexibility of AMN’s Radio Node has also contributed to the traffic increase across these sites. AMN’s ARN is a multi-carrier and multi-technology (2G/3G/4G) radio node which can operate up to 5 simultaneous carriers in either 2G+ 3G or 2G+4G configuration. By using LEO backhaul in conjunction with the software-defined AMN Radio Node, AMN has been able to increase the BTS capacity remotely with no change to the existing BTS hardware on site. Some rural AMN sites are processing more than 25,000 voice minutes per day. Prior to the installation of AMN’s base station, many of these communities did not have access to any mobile network.

The deal will provide enhanced connectivity and increased network capacity to deliver more services to more locations. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Gilat Telecom, a global satellite services company in Africa, will undertake a major expansion of a Tier-1 cellular network’s capacity and reach in Africa with NOVELSAT’s satellite modems

Making use of NOVELSAT’s high-capacity SCPC modems, Gilat Telecom will extend the satellite network to new locations, as well as substantially increase the network’s overall capacity. In doing so, it aims to deliver more robust and faster broadband services.

“We are happy to support Gilat Telecom in this expansion of the network in Africa,” remarked Gary Drutin, CEO of NOVELSAT. “By increasing both the reach and capacity of the cellular network, we are ensuring that more communities benefit from reliable and high-quality services. This expansion is a testament to the market demand for our unique capability to provide world-class satellite connectivity.”

NOVELSAT satellite modem technology will provide industry-leading performance, combining NOVELSAT NS4 bandwidth-efficient waveform and NOVELSAT DUET bandwidth reuse technology to deliver unparalleled transmission speeds and highest spectral efficiency, as well as exceptional resilience.

Asaf Rosenheck, COO of Gilat Telecom, commented, “We are happy to cooperate with NOVELSAT and offer our Tier-1 customers reliable solutions that meet their high needs. This collaboration allows us to better serve our customers in Africa, bringing them the robust, high-speed broadband services they require to support their growing needs.”

Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Image source: OneWeb)

Eutelsat Group and Bayobab, a subsidiary of MTN Group, have entered into a multi-year agreement to utilise Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity from Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation

This partnership is designed to meet the connectivity demands of enterprises and cellular backhaul, delivering reliable solutions to improve network performance and customer experience across Africa.

Expanding network coverage 

As Africa's leading digital and infrastructure service provider, Bayobab will use Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation to offer fixed connectivity services. These advanced satellite solutions aim to enhance coverage in rural areas, delivering high-quality connectivity with reduced latency. The rollout is expected to be completed across the continent by December 2024, with services already active in four African countries.

Cyril Dujardin, co-president of the Eutelsat Group Connectivity Business Unit, commented, "We are proud to count Bayobab and the broader MTN Group amongst Africa’s early adopters of the Eutelsat/OneWeb LEO constellation. This partnership underscores the commitment of both Eutelsat and Bayobab to drive digital inclusion, and the pertinence of innovative satellite solutions to achieve this aim, notably the unique properties of ubiquitous, low latency LEO capacity.”

Frédéric Schepens, CEO of Bayobab, added, "At Bayobab, we're passionate about being at the forefront of harnessing technology to empower people and businesses across Africa. Our partnership with Eutelsat and the integration of OneWeb's LEO satellite services into our solutions is a testament to this commitment. This collaboration brings cutting-edge digital connectivity to even the most remote corners of the continent and reaffirms our promise of 'Connecting Africa' – a promise rooted in partnership and driven by a vision of a digitally inclusive future."

This collaboration between Eutelsat and Bayobab represents a significant advancement in bridging Africa’s digital divide. The deployment and integration of LEO satellite technology will provide improved connectivity solutions, empowering communities across the continent.