Satellite

Gilat leverages NOVELSAT technology to expand connectivity in Africa

A digital picture of Africa from space connected.

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, Bayobab expand Africa's connectivity

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.

NIGCOMSAT and BON boost broadcasting reach

This three-month partnership aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of broadcasting services for BON members across the country. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has joined forces with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to deliver uplink services via the NIGCOMSAT satellite network

This three-month partnership aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of broadcasting services for BON members across the country.

This initiative aligns with the goals of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, under the leadership of Minister Bosun Tijani. NIGCOMSAT plans to leverage its cutting-edge satellite technology to support and elevate the capabilities of BON and its associated organisations.

Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, the managing director and CEO of NIGCOMSAT Ltd, expressed that the company is at the forefront of digital transformation and connectivity enhancement in Nigeria. She emphasised that this collaboration with BON will elevate the nation's broadcasting sector and extend the advantages of satellite technology to millions of Nigerians.

The technical teams from NIGCOMSAT and BON will collaborate closely to integrate their systems, ensuring a smooth transition. This partnership will enhance access to broadcasting services for more Nigerians, including those in rural and underserved regions, thereby promoting high-quality media content and connecting the nation more effectively.

The key to digitising African mining?

A large satellite set up pointing at the sky in a wooded area.

This solution offers a secure, stable, and high-performance primary connectivity network, crucial for engineering private networks or leveraging cloud-based applications. (Image source: Avanti Communications)

Avanti Communications, a leading multi-orbit provider of fully integrated connectivity services, has highlighted the crucial role satellite technology will play in the forthcoming digitalisation of Africa’s mining sector

The mining industry offers great promise for African nations in the years ahead having already underpinned the economies of many countries for a number of decades. Now, the critical mineral demand boom is enhancing global interest and offering the continent the chance to claim a leading position in the forthcoming energy transition.

In order to grasp this unprecedented opportunity, the sector must keep up with the modern technologies which offer the opportunity to maximise production and efficiency. According to Avanti, digitalisation will be a key facilitator of such innovative solutions and, going further, the use of satellite technology is therefore vital.

Mine Always On

It is with this understanding that Avanti has introduced its ‘Mine Always On’ solution, designed to ensure constant, undisrupted connectivity tailored to the unique demands of the mining industry. It brings about operational efficiencies and provides sustainable, reliable connectivity in remote mining locales.

Gamze Aydin, senior vice president sales and South Africa country manager at Avanti, commented, “Successfully charting this complex terrain heralds a new era of enhanced return on investment, operational efficiency, and sustainable practices in mining.”

Technologies such as this latest introduction by Avanti facilitate real-time communication and data exchange, vital for everything from enhancing safety to ensuring regulatory compliance. Moreover, the company has illustrated how the solution exemplifies its commitment to bolstering the mining sector’s digital transformation journey, focusing on cyber resilience and progress towards Net Zero goals.

“Satellite technology is an undisputed lifeline for mining,” said Aydin. “It will define new standards for improving efficiency, boosting safety, and addressing environmental compliance. It’s a transformative force, bringing vital technological advancements to legacy systems when it’s needed most.”

NIGCOMSAT and INFRATEL AFRICA boost rural connectivity

NIGCOMSAT partners with INFRATEL AFRICA to enhance rural connectivity and digital economy in Nigeria using satellite tech. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd continues to assert its leadership as a provider of satellite communications infrastructure by securing a new contract with INFRATEL AFRICA, a major telecom company engaged in a rural infrastructure backhaul project

This project will transition 100 locations to the NigComSat-1R Ka band hub platform, significantly enhancing rural connectivity and furthering the digital economy goals of the current administration.

Enhancing digital inclusion

The NigComSat-1R satellite will support businesses by expanding telecom networks and improving connectivity solutions. Managing director NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, remarked, “The collaboration with INFRATEL AFRICA is a welcome development as NIGCOMSAT Ltd is now placed to claim its rightful position in the industry.”

"And together we are making significant progress in delivering services in the areas of Transponder lease, broadband internet, broadcast service and other turnkey solutions,’” Egerton-Idehen added at the signing of the agreement between the two companies.

The managing director noted that all the people she is currently working with, are all internal staff, which shows the level of competencies on ground. She assured INFRATEL AFRICA that NIGCOMSAT Ltd in recent time upgraded its infrastructure to meet the world standard for service delivery.

INFRATEL AFRICA is connecting unserved and underserved communities to the global digital landscape, promoting inclusivity and digital equality by leveraging its infrastructure, expertise, and technology as a leading telecommunication infrastructure service provider in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This, among other goals, is achieved by providing technology solutions to drive transformational services such as Agency Banking, Telemedicine, e-learning, e-government and Solar based cold rooms within the rural communities, utilising strategic alliances with technical partners to deliver value to clients and enhance communication across Africa, bridging gaps regardless of social class or location.

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