Eutelsat OneWeb signed a multi-year master distribution agreement on Wednesday with African ICT integrator NEC XON to bring OneWeb’s LEOsat connectivity to Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement covers installation and bandwidth-and Service Level Agreements for customers. Under the deal, NEC XON will also serve as a training academy for Eutelsat OneWeb products and services.
Eutelsat OneWeb said that integration with NEC XON’s ICT services will help the operator meet the needs of vertical enterprises for seamless, borderless connectivity across Sub-Saharan Africa for applications such as cellular backhaul, oil and gas, agriculture, government and mining.
Cyril Dujardin, co-general manager of Eutelsat OneWeb, said the NEC XON partnership would give it the “regional expertise to reshape connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
NEC XON Communications Solutions executive Wally Beelders commented that the agreement will ensure one-stop delivery of device terminals and customer support while keeping costs and energy consumption minimal, especially for underserved and unserved remote regions where traditional VSAT has its limitations.
“The collaboration signifies a pivotal leap towards a more connected Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
