21 May 2012
SES has signed new contracts with the African telecommunications carrier, Gateway Communications Africa for capacity on its NSS-703 satellite at 313 degrees East and its NSS-5 and NSS-7 satellites positioned at 340 degrees East.
The additional capacity will allow Gateway Communications to expand its business with mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) on the African continent.
“These organisations face infrastructure issues in Africa due to the vast territories to be covered and this is where satellite coverage is used to alleviate some of the mobile backhaul limitations”, states Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, Vice President and General Manager, of SES for Africa.
SES currently has eight satellites serving the African continent, with a further two planned for launch during the course of 2012.
“Satellite connectivity remains a core tool in connecting our customers to each other and to the rest of the world. As subsea cables bring more capacity to the coast of Africa, investing in satellite and building terrestrial networks have a great future across Africa," said Phil Braden, COO for Gateway Communications.
