K-NET Develops Network to Serve Operators in Rural Africa
Nov. 12, 2012
K-NET, an international telecom
provider, has developed a satellite backhaul network by
combining iDirect's satellite platform and Altobridge small cell
technology to bring mobile voice and broadband connectivity for
the first-time ever to rural communities in
Ghana. The network, developed
for mobile operator Tigo, is now live across 10 sites in
Ghana and has proven to lower
the total cost of ownership by up to 65% compared to a
conventional backhaul solution. Plans now call for K-NET to
expand to 300 additional sites with private sector funding.
iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications
technology.
The low cost solution developed by
K-NET includes satellite communications equipment from iDirect,
2G and 3G Base Station Subsystems (BSS) from Altobridge and
solar power technology from Ameresco Solar. The combined
solution enables mobile operators like Tigo to profitably serve
rural communities with population densities of less than 1,500
people. The 10 communication towers implemented to date have
experienced substantial levels of traffic and very strong growth
of more than 25% since the last one was completed at the end of
July 2012. Several of the towers
are now carrying more than 250,000 minutes of voice traffic each
month, and more than 15,000 SMS messages.
K-NET selected the iDirect Platform to
backhaul its small cell deployment because iDirect technology
integrates seamlessly with small cell architectures for a
cost-effective and easy to deploy solution. Traditionally,
mobile operators have deployed large macro cells to cover remote
areas, but this is often an expensive and logistically difficult
proposition and has limited expansion of rural service. Local
network service is delivered through iDirect's Evolution X1
outdoor remote, which features an IP67 enclosure, an extended
temperature range and the ability to run entirely on solar
power. Advanced BSS equipment from Altobridge optimizes capacity
and reduces power consumption to less than 5% of a conventional
implementation. This enables the use of a highly efficient
solar-based power system from Ameresco Solar to be used, which
offers substantially lower running costs than a conventional
power system with diesel generator backup.
The network received initial funding
from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications
(GIFEC). Cost savings of 65% has prompted K-NET to plan 300
additional sites in an effort to expand service to the 20% of
Ghana's population that is
currently without mobile coverage. Local government authorities
expect the service to attract investors and open up more
business opportunities and enhance teaching and learning in
local schools.
"Providing
affordable and reliable mobile voice and data connectivity is
essential to economic and social development in
Africa, but reaching remote and
rural communities is a challenge. Small cells provided one part
of the equation, but we also needed a backhaul solution that was
quick to deploy, easy to operate, and allowed us to expand
cost-effectively. The iDirect Evolution Platform, and
specifically the X1 remote, perfectly integrates with small cell
technology and provided the ideal solution for our
requirements." Richard Hlormador, Founder, Chairman &
Chief Architect, K-NET
