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New voice, data network targets Africa's disaster areas

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 03 Feb 2017
Dan Zajicek, CEO of Gilat Satcom.
Dan Zajicek, CEO of Gilat Satcom.

Gilat Satcom, a communication solutions provider that offers satellite and fibre-based connectivity solutions in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, has launched a voice and data network that can be assembled and connected to the company's global satellite network within one minute.

The One Minute Network has been developed for use throughout Africa, including disaster areas, refugee camps and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as temporary sites, including events and mining research initiatives.

Gilat Satcom has deployments in 50 countries worldwide, including SA. The company says the One Minute Network was designed in response to demand from a variety of existing customers, including those working in disaster areas in Africa.

It notes the network is a ready-made system that contains all the components required to build a reliable and always-on network that can support voice, Internet and video.

The One Minute Network includes base stations, mobile VSAT terminals, repeaters, satellite PTT phones and personal tracking units that can be used by individuals to send emergency signals. It can be powered by solar and/or batteries.

"Our engineers have used all their expertise and experience to produce a system which can be built quickly and easily," says Dan Zajicek, CEO of Gilat Satcom.

Its customers include cellular operators, major Internet service providers, banks, NGOs and government projects.

"Gilat Satcom's team of engineers has been working on the system for the past six months, experimenting with different components and testing it constantly," Zajicek notes. "We are targeting NGOs and governments. The One Minute Network is needed in places or times when there isn't any network alternative or when the network is down due to a disaster."

He points out that Gilat Satcom has worked in the African telecom market for over two decades. "We see its [Africa's] potential as a rapidly growing economy with a constant need for connectivity in order to establish growth."

The company has also forged partnerships with some telcos on the African continent, including Vodacom, Orange, Airtel and Cellcom.

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