Satellite communications solutions provider SES has signed an agreement with Intersat Africa, a provider of satellite-based Internet services, to expand the reach of its satellite-based broadband service, Astra2Connect, to Africa.
The service, which will start in January 2010, will be offered to households, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as schools.
With capacity coming from SES World Skies' NSS-12 satellite, Intersat Africa says it will be able to deliver cost-effective broadband services to the African market.
Astra2Connect will be sold in 10 countries in East and central Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, states the company.
“Our agreement with Intersat Africa marks a milestone for the roll-out of Astra2Connect beyond Europe, and we are very proud that we are now able to offer our service in a dynamic market such as East and central Africa,” says Norbert Willems, MD of Astra Broadband Services SA.
“Stable and cost-efficient broadband connections are important for economic growth and social wealth, and Astra2Connect is an ideal solution for all households in Africa which have so far been excluded from the digital revolution.”
CEO of Intersat Africa, Abdul Bakhrani, says: “Our strategic partnership with SES Astra and SES World Skies opens new horizons for delivering Internet service to the masses in rural Africa.
“East Africa has recently been connected to the information superhighway on submarine fibre, but unfortunately only the users in urban areas will benefit from this Internet revolution,” he adds.
“The last mile connectivity is still a challenge and this is where SES' broadband service and satellite capacity fit in. The Astra2Connect service also complements our Rural Internet Kiosk programme, which will empower thousands of Africans with high-speed Internet,” Bakhrani concludes.
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