Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, has launched a Nigerian unit, Intelsat CellBackhaul Nigeria, to tap market stakes in bridging the connectivity gaps in the country.
The satellite operator says that the entry of Intelsat CellBackhaul Nigeria, a new satellite cellular backhaul service platform, located at the Open Access Datacenter (WIOCC) in Lagos, Nigeria, marks “a major milestone in our efforts to enhance Nigeria and Africa’s connectivity infrastructure.”
“This is a great day for Intelsat, Nigeria and West Africa, bringing new capabilities and solutions to the market. Satellite technology is critical to closing the digital divide. To connect unconnected populations in rural and remote locations, satellite backhaul is often the most viable option for a rapid, reliable, cost-effective connectivity solution,” Rhys Morgan, RVP, EMEA, Intelsat, says in a statement made available to Technology Times.
Despite notable progress, Intelsat says, “Sub-Saharan Africa remains a region with the widest usage and coverage gaps (59% and 15% respectively). Almost half of the 400 million people who lack mobile broadband coverage worldwide live in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major challenge in closing this gap, especially in rural areas, is that expanding mobile networks is often slowed by the high cost and slow pace of traditional infrastructure deployment methods and deterred by low returns on investment.”
Intelsat CellBackhaul Nigeria, which will operate as a fully-managed cellular backhaul service, will support mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) in Nigeria and West Africa by helping them overcome challenges related to expanding mobile coverage in the region, enabling rapid and cost-effective network expansion via Intelsat’s satellite and terrestrial network. “The new Nigeria solution will be added to the existing platforms in several other African countries delivering services to millions of people across thousands of cell towers,” according to Intelsat
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