Hughes expands managed network services with African Development Bank

A new expansion contract will see Hughes Network Systems expanding the managed satellite services it provides to African Development Bank (AfDB) and delivering MPLS connectivity across Africa.

Hughes will install MPLS circuits at four AfDB sites operated. A German satellite Teleport will enable backhaul (STM1) services to its Temporary Relocation Agency in Tunis, Tunisia. SAP, VoIP, video conferencing and high-speed satellite Internet access will be among the major applications supported by the expansion.

The Company will also perform field maintenance, ensure a 24/7 multilingual customer assistance services, and submit monthly reports, statistics, and quarterly reviews on the network’s usage and performance.

Hughes has delivered managed services to the AfDB since 2008. Its broadband satellite terminals formed a primary communications network that links up 32 AfDB field offices scattered throughout Africa.

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Belgium Satellite Services acquires Intersat Africa for Africa, Middle East expansion

In seeking to further extend its coverage of the Middle East and Africa, Belgium Satellite Services (BSS) recently acquired satellite Internet service provider Intersat Africa.

Intersat currently offers satellite Internet connectivity to African and Middle Eastern customers in the public and private sectors. It will continue to operate its technical, sales and customer service team. In addition, Intersat will also cooperate with a team from BSS to develop sales, products, and markets.

Acquising Intersat Africa allows BSS to expand its enterprise customer base, spur growth and innovation, and provide customers, shareholders, employees, the communities in the target regions with new opportunities.

A provider of Teleport services and satellite communications solutions, BSS traces its origin to the former satellite services division of Belgacom back in 2007. The Company’s technical and operational infrastructure in Europe provides solutions for hosting and hub services, IP over satellite, and TV and broadcasting.

It has been BSS’ plan to expand into Africa and the Middle East for a while now. The Company needed a strategic partner it could synergize with. Its new acquisition, Intersat Africa, will add the capacity to completely provide concept to complete solutions, which are the current focus of BSS in its Asian telecoms and IT convergence projects as well as its global SATCOM businesses.

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MWEB Business launches VSAT satellite internet service in South Africa

Internet solution provider MWEB Business launched a new satellite Internet service, MWEB Business VSAT, in South Africa. The Company will deliver affordable satellite broadband connectivity to both urban areas and rural regions of the largest economy in Africa.

MWEB Business is marketing its new very small aperture terminal (VSAT) initiative to rural communities, farmers, and other areas that lack access to standard broadband. It also targets businesses that sponsor Internet-by-satellite connectivity for schools in remote rural regions.

General Manager Andre Joubert points out individuals and businesses based in regions that lack reliable access (if they have any access at all) to ADSL, 3G, and/or electricity will find it hard to access the Internet, especially expensive-to-deploy broadband Internet. He also notes that farmers, game lodge owners, and members of the mining and construction industries are finding it necessary to ensure long-distance communications with parties in urban areas.

According to GM Joubert, MWEB Business VSAT can provide those customers with the data services they need to perform Internet surfing, e-mail, and other functions. The Company’s Internet-on-satellite service can also serve as a form of affordable and reliable telephone communication. It also has an easily-installed secondary connectivity option, perfect for businesses that rely upon constant availability of broadband connectivity.

MWEB Business VSAT has yet another advantage working for it. The satellite-delivered nature of the service makes it immune to cable theft. It can thus serve as an alternative method of accessing fixed line services for businesses in the urban areas.

MWEB uses a satellite teleport (transmission station) that is based in South Africa. This prevents latency in the Company’s new satellite communications services, including and especially its VOIP (voice over IP) services.

The MWEB Business VSAT satellite service is capable of speeds up to 4 Mbps. It is packaged into several bundles for both virtual private network (VPN) services or basic Internet-from-satellite services. In addition, its satellite broadband customers can opt for a ‘hard cap’ of their bundle, or use an out-of-bundle rate.

MWEB equipment can either be leased or purchased outright. This includes the satellite dishes for its VSAT systems, which can hook up to local power grids or run on independent solar power.

Report: Ka-band important in delivering broadband to sub-Saharan Africa

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) reported that Ka-band satellite broadband would play a critical role in meeting the future broadband targets of African governments.

According to the CTO’s research study, The Socio-Economic Impact of Broadband: the Satellite Advantage, low cost satellite networks are the best key in delivering broadband access to rural Africa. These networks provide Internet from satellite connectivity that complement terrestrial and submarine cable networks.

Satellite broadband is immune to the problems that confront fiber networks. And according to CTO CEO Tim Unwin, the latest generation of Ka-band satellites will be even more cost-efficient than legacy C-band and Ku-band satellites, allowing satellite broadband to complement fibre and mobile networks in bringing broadband access to Africa.

The CTO report also invoked a World Bank study in 2009 that reported the economic growth of low and middle income countries improved by 1.38 percent after a 10% increase in broadband penetration.

The World Bank report was one of more than 100 studies that proved ICT usage and socio-economic development were linked. Policy makers now consider it urgent to provide broadband connections at the soonest possible date.

According to the CTO, a number of submarine and terrestrial cable projects are now linking sub-Saharan Africa to the rest of the world. However, the region still lacks sufficient broadband infrastructure, leaving a large percentage of its population unable to access broadband connectivity.

After CTO released its report, David Williams, the CEO of Avanti, responded by stating that Avanti intends to bring broadband to the millions of people in Africa. He explained that Ka-band satellites -including Avanti’s new Hylas 2- will provide faster and cheaper broadband connections compared to legacy Ku-band and C-band satellites.