Intelsat (NYSE: I), the world's leading provider of satellite services, and Japan-based SoftBank Mobile today announced the successful trial of a cost-effective, rural 3G mobile phone service in Kenya. Intelsat supported the demonstration through capacity on the Intelsat 10 satellite and via the company's teleport, in Fuchsstadt, Germany.
The demonstration reinforced Intelsat's ability to deliver a high-throughput, managed, VSAT-based 3G solution through the allocation of capacity based on traffic demands. Intelsat's fleet and IntelsatOne terrestrial network were instrumental in enabling the deployment in rural Kenya, an area of Africa not supported by traditional land-line infrastructure.
"There are still hundreds of millions of people who live outside mobile network coverage areas today," said Junichi Miyakawa, executive vice-president, director and CTO of SoftBank Mobile. "Harnessing SoftBank's technology in rural parts of the world literally matches our corporate philosophy, 'Information Revolution - Happiness for everyone'. I hope this technology will make communication even more free and convenient for people around the world."
"The successful field trial of a cost-effective, managed, VSAT-based, rural 3G service delivery solution is an excellent example of the collaborative innovation that our industry requires to properly support the demands of its end-users," said Intelsat vice-president of network services product management, Steve Good.
"We are confident that technology advancements such as this and our Intelsat EpicNG platform will allow mobile operators to provide reliable, ubiquitous support to their most remote users, and provide a robust broadband infrastructure as networks upgrade from 2G to 3G, and eventually to 4G via satellite."
SoftBank Mobile also utilises the Intelsat 8 satellite and a managed service offering via the IntelsatOne terrestrial network for the delivery of cellular and data backhaul services to its customers across the southern islands of Japan. The agreement enables SoftBank Mobile to expand its service area and enhance the company's offerings to customers in this geographically dispersed section of Japan.
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Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world's leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat's satellite, teleport and fibre infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalisation of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.
Softbank Mobile
The SoftBank Group has based its business growth on the Internet with the corporate philosophy of "Information Revolution - Happiness for everyone". The Group is currently engaged in various businesses in the information industry, including mobile communications, broadband infrastructure, fixed-line telecommunications and Internet culture, and is pursuing further synergies within the Group. SoftBank Mobile provides mobile communications business as a member of the SoftBank Group. While offering cutting-edge smartphones, attractive devices and a variety of content, it is also striving to enhance its high-speed communication network such as LTE to provide a better service environment for customers. It has achieved No.1 position in terms of the number of subscriber net additions for five consecutive periods in Japan. For more information, please refer to http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/en/.
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Contacts
Intelsat
Dianne VanBeber
Vice-President, Investor Relations and Communications
(+12) 02 944 7406
dianne.vanbeber@intelsat.com