Satellite

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.

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.

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.”

Gamze Aydin, senior vice-president of sales and South Africa country manager at Avanti. (Image source: Avanti Communications)

Avanti Communications, a leading global multi-orbit provider of fully integrated connectivity services and solutions, has successfully conducted a satellite connectivity test with BankservAfrica, Africa’s largest automated clearing house, and Capitec Bank, one of South Africa’s top retail banks

The successful completion of this connectivity test marks a significant step towards enhancing transactional security. It highlights the transformative potential of satellite communications in bolstering digital banking systems, paving the way for more resilient financial operations, reflective of a digitally mature and inclusive banking future.

Satellite connectivity test key findings:

Stable connectivity: The satellite connection demonstrated durability with consistent stability, a crucial factor in ensuring financial transactions are carried out without interruption on Avanti’s GEO Ka HTS satellite.

Mission critical application: Financial traffic was routed solely on the Avanti satellite link, showcasing Avanti’s link capability in handling mission-critical applications during the loss of terrestrial links or unstable connectivity caused by fibre cuts or power issues.

Effective production testing: High transaction volumes were efficiently managed during intensive production testing, underscoring the robustness of the satellite link.

Gamze Aydin, senior vice-president of sales and South Africa country manager at Avanti, commented, “With South Africa’s financial institutions facing the threats of power grid instabilities and undersea cable malfunctions, this test is a forerunner of strengthened operational resilience. By enabling direct satellite connection to European traffic hubs, Avanti’s solution reduces reliance on local infrastructure, which is prone to disruption. These tests not only validate the role of satellite technology as a steadfast, secure conduit for financial transactions but underscore its importance in maintaining operations in challenging conditions.”

The collaboration with BankservAfrica and Capitec represents a significant advancement in technological application.

“We participated in the connectivity test to determine the viability of using Satellite for additional resilience in the financial industry. The test was successful across all the critical measurement points. BankservAfrica is pleased to consider the inclusion of this technology across our Managed Network Solution,” added Ben Janse van Rensburg, chief technology officer at BankservAfrica.

This initiative is a major step towards reinforcing the resilience of financial services across Africa. The successful completion of the test is an important milestone, demonstrating the viability of satellite communication in maintaining stable and reliable transaction environments.