Satellite Networks

SES will provide broadband connection to Africa

At a time of unparalleled link-ups between East Africa and the rest of the world, SES is to offer its Astra2Connect satellite-based broadband platform for Internet connections to East and Central Africa...

SES is expanding the reach of its satellite-based broadband service Astra2Connect to Africa via an agreement it has signed with Intersat Africa, a provider of satellite-based Internet services on the continent. The service, which will start in January 2010, will be offered to households, and SMEs as well as schools.
With capacity coming from SES World Skies’ NSS-12 satellite, Intersat Africa will use the satellite broadband platform to introduce interactive satellite-based broadband services to the African market.. Astra2Connect will be sold in ten countries in East and Central Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Newtec, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art satellite equipment and a long-term partner for Astra2Connect, will supply Intersat Africa with the respective satellite broadband user terminals based on Sat3Play technology.
 Astra2Connect offers customers in regions without terrestrial broadband networks an “easy, reliable and cost-efficient solution to access the Internet through an always-on interactive broadband connection for a flat service fee.” The relevant customer-premises equipment - a modem and a satellite dish - is delivered with a unique Point&Play tool for easy self-installation. Astra2Connect was first marketed in early 2007 and is already available in 14 countries throughout Europe. The service is marketed via wholesalers and ISPs.
 Intersat Africa is acutely aware of the arrival of submarine cables in East Africa: "Our strategic partnership with SES Astra and SES World Skies opens new horizons for delivering Internet service to the masses in rural Africa," believes Abdul Bakhrani, CEO of Intersat Africa. "East Africa has recently been connected to the Information Superhighway on submarine fibre, but unfortunately only the users in urban areas will benefit from this internet revolution. The last mile connectivity is still a challenge and this is where SES broadband service and satellite capacity fit in. The Astra2Connect service also complements our Rural Internet Kiosk programme which will empower thousands of Africans with
high speed Internet."
 "Our agreement with Intersat Africa marks a milestone for the roll-out of Astra2Connect beyond Europe,and we are very proud that we are now able to offer our service in a dynamic market such as East and Central Africa," said Norbert Willems, Managing Director at Astra Broadband Services. "Stable and cost-efficient broadband connections are important for economic growth and social wealth, and Astra2Connect is an ideal solution for all households in
Africa which have so far been excluded from the digital revolution."
 * SES wholly owns satellite operators SES Astra and SES World Skies, 90% of SES Sirius in Europe, and strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico. SES provides satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 40 satellites in 26 orbital locations.
 ** Intersat Africa provides satellite-based data solutions in Africa, offering Internet via satellite connectivity to major organisations, government institutions and the private sector. Its customised products and services are optimised for national and multinational corporations, academic institutions, financial institutions, backbone providers, broadcasters, ISPs and government institutions across Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
 *** Newtec offers satellite communications solutions including DVB-S2 modulators and modems, Digital TV & Radio Distribution and Exchange networks, and IP Broadband Access Networks as well as software solutions for the optimisation of Internet traffic to customers worldwide. Established in 1985, and headquartered in Belgium, the company has regional offices located in Stamford (US), Singapore (Singapore), Beijing (China), Dubai (UAE) and São Paulo Brazil). Newtec's subsidiary TurboConcept in Brest (France) develops Intellectual Property Cores for turbo and LDPC building blocks. 
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