Johannesburg, 17 Jan 2024
Paratus South Africa and low earth orbit satellite (LEO) operator, Eutelsat OneWeb (part of Eutelsat Group), have launched revolutionary new connectivity services in South Africa.
This is significant for Paratus South Africa because they already provide geostationary (GEO) satellite services through their long-standing partnership with Eutelsat Group, and this new agreement further strengthens Paratus South Africa’s satellite connectivity offering. The LEO and GEO services will appeal to business sectors operating in remote parts of the country, including retail, banking, mining, agriculture and tourism.
Unique benefits of the LEO connectivity solutions:
- The Eutelsat OneWeb services are connected to the Paratus core fibre network at the point of presence (POP) in Teraco Isando. This 20 000km network spans 10 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. This means that Paratus will offer unique high-capacity, resilience and quality of service to its customers, regardless of their location or connectivity needs.
- Paratus South Africa’s customer support is now extended to LEO services, which provides 24/7/365 assistance and a seamless and streamlined installation process, guaranteeing an optimal customer experience.
- Revolutionary LEO technology is transforming the connectivity landscape as the satellite constellation orbits at lower altitudes to provide lower latency.
- With the Paratus South Africa and Eutelsat Group partnership, the GEO offering is complemented by this new LEO service to provide customers a diverse set of options and benefits, including resilience and backup connectivity.
Commenting on this milestone, MD of Paratus South Africa, Kallie Carlsen, says: “Introducing the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO service is a momentous step for the telecommunications industry in South Africa. As a nation, we are embracing the future of connectivity, transcending geographical boundaries and enabling opportunities like never before. As satellite experts, we are uniquely placed to empower more and more people and businesses in South Africa with this landmark partnership.”
Eutelsat OneWeb has installed its Satellite Network Portals (SNP) in South Africa, Ghana, Angola and Mauritius and continues to secure strategic partnerships to roll out its coverage solutions. The LEO service offering will be to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access in regions where traditional connectivity might be challenging or previously non-existent.
Carlsen continues: “These services will open new possibilities for business expansion, innovation and efficiency. The applications extend across various sectors, from enhancing communication and collaboration to enabling new services in healthcare, education, finance, mining and industry. It gives South African enterprises the opportunity to be more competitive on the global stage and fosters regional economic development.
Cyril Dujardin, co-General Manager of Eutelsat OneWeb, says: "The adaptability and scalability of the Eutelsat OneWeb system makes it a promising solution for the diverse and unique challenges faced by the African continent. Together with Paratus, we will demonstrate how LEO can overcome geographical barriers and redefine connectivity in the region, to serve banking, mining, enterprise and offshore markets, and to set a benchmark for future communications excellence in South Africa.”
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Paratus
Paratus is Africa’s quality network. With an eye on the future, the group is investing in infrastructure and establishing itself as a key player in delivering integrated network services across Africa. Paratus is managed by a passionate and professional operational team in seven African countries – Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia – and the business’s extended network provides a satellite connectivity-focused service in more than 35 African countries to a magnitude of customer satellite connections across Africa. This connects African businesses across the continent and delivers end-to-end service excellence. The group’s footprint extends beyond Africa to international (points of presence) PoPs in Europe and the US.
Born and bred in Africa, Paratus is thinking big as it grows its footprint to deliver Africa’s quality network. By understanding the unique opportunities that Africa offers business and individuals to break boundaries and to connect without limits, Paratus is committed to raising the bar for providing quality connectivity in Africa.
OneWeb
OneWeb is a global communications network powered from space, headquartered in London, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. Find out more at http://www.oneweb.world