- Intelsat, a satellite services provider, has unveiled a new satellite cellular backhaul service platform at the Open Access Datacenter (WIOCC) in Lagos, Nigeria, to improve Nigeria’s and Africa’s connectivity infrastructure.
- Known as Intelsat CellBackhaul Nigeria, the solution is a fully managed cellular backhaul service that will support mobile network operators (MNOs) and Internet service providers (ISPs) in Nigeria and West Africa.
- It will help 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 integrated into existing platforms in several other African countries, serving millions of people via thousands of cell towers.
Since 2018, Intelsat and Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) have reportedly installed over 3,000 rural satellite base antennas in various African countries, providing new telecommunications services to more than 8 million people by 2023.
The companies were said to plan further expansions in Madagascar, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to Intelsat, sub-Saharan Africa continues to experience significant usage and coverage gaps of 59% and 15%, respectively, with nearly half of the 400 million people without mobile broadband coverage living in this region.
It went on to say that the high cost and slow pace of traditional infrastructure deployment, frequently hampered by low returns on investment, are significant barriers to closing this gap, particularly in rural areas.
To address these challenges, the satellite services provider stated that this move marks a major milestone in its efforts to improve connectivity infrastructure in Nigeria and across Africa.
Rhys Morgan, RVP, EMEA, and Intelsat, emphasised the importance of satellite technology in closing the digital gap. He explained that satellite backhaul is often the most viable option for a rapid, reliable, cost-effective connectivity solution to connect unconnected populations in rural and remote locations.
Intelsat CellBackhaul allows cost-effective extension of global cellular broadband to places terrestrial networks can’t reach or have become unavailable. It provides global, high-throughput connectivity that benefits individuals and organisations daily, serving as a lifeline for emergency service providers and those in need.