Johannesburg, 15 Sep 2010
African carrier solutions provider Gateway Communications is set to improve satellite utilisation for mobile network operators, with the unveiling of CellDirect.
The solution uses Demand Assigned Multiple Access technology, which makes use of a bandwidth manager to allocate satellite capacity - based on time, frequency and which type of capacity is available in order to meet demand.
According to Gateway, satellite tests of the service began on 12 August and the product will be unveiled on 21 September at the Capacity Africa event, being held in Nairobi, Kenya.
“The technology will better allow customers to match scarce satellite capacity with actual revenue-earning traffic,” says Peter Gerrard, Gateway Communications' product manager.
He adds that benefits come because customers are charged at an average data rate per link, instead of the more usual peak data rate, meaning any users will immediately see the benefits in their monthly bill.
Satellite preference
Satellite connectivity has been hailed as the preferred option within the African context.
Earlier this year, SES Astra COO Alexander Oudendjik explained: “Africa's vast distances and wide open spaces, as well as predominantly rural landscape, pose unique challenges for content distribution, communication and connectivity on this continent.”
He argued that satellite-based broadband was the more viable option to terrestrial and transatlantic fibre connections, which have little or no reach. Oudendjik said it would take many years and much investment to bring cable to market, although it's unlikely this would happen.
The cost of last mile cable infrastructure to the home is very high, as opposed to wireless access, which has proven to be the best solution, he added. To this end, Africa offers huge market potential for satellite, which is cheap, and offers quick connectivity to Internet, as well as VOIP.
Related story:
Cisco, Gateway connect Africa
Share