Paratus SA boosts Tantum IT’s connectivity with Eutelsat OneWeb solution

Johannesburg, 15 Oct 2024

Installing the Eutelsat OneWeb dome.

Tantum IT positions itself as a leading IT service provider specialising in remote IT management, cloud services and secure data handling for various industries, particularly those situated in remote and high-demand environments. Reliable and robust internet connectivity is crucial for delivering these services. To overcome its connectivity challenges, Tantum IT chose Paratus South Africa, an official distributer of Eutelsat OneWeb's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) services in South Africa, to provide the solution.

This technology was a perfect fit for Tantum IT's requirements, offering a high-speed, stable connection that surpassed the limitations of long-range WiFi and traditional satellite links.

Before Paratus South Africa installed Eutelsat OneWeb, Tantum IT problems were causing business operational problems, particularly when its customers struggled with remote desktop protocol (RDP) sessions, IPsec tunnels for accessing shared drives, and other business tools. Uploading high-resolution photos and performing tasks on shared drives were both slow and frustrating.

The LEO service that Paratus South Africa has now provided and installed has been a game-changer for Tantum IT’s business as it has enhanced the company’s operational efficiency and its clients’ satisfaction.

Integrating the Paratus South Africa Eutelsat OneWeb service into Tantum IT’s infrastructure was seamless. Paratus South Africa provided a DHCP range outside of existing network ranges, and the connection to Tantum IT's Fortigate Firewall was straightforward. The Tantum IT in-house team handled the configuration, and Paratus South Africa’s proactive support ensured a smooth deployment, addressing any challenges efficiently.

The implementation of Paratus’s LEO solution resulted in significant improvements in connectivity, speed and reliability. At Doornkop, users could access shared drives without issues, complete tasks quickly and maintain stable VPN connections. Tests conducted confirmed other benefits of the LEO solution, including smooth operation of e-mail servers, the Oracle Finance system, and successful video conferencing sessions. Users experienced no disconnections or slowdowns, and tasks like uploading photos and streaming content were completed efficiently.

Kallie Carlsen, Managing Director of Paratus South Africa, stated: "For businesses and industries operating in remote areas, traditional connectivity solutions often fall short in providing the reliability and speed needed for daily operations. LEO satellite technology is uniquely positioned to overcome these challenges by delivering high-speed, low-latency internet access. At Paratus South Africa, we specialise in providing tailored satellite solutions that ensure our clients, like Tantum IT, can operate efficiently and without disruption, no matter where they are located. Our partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb allows us to offer a robust connectivity solution that meets the demands of even the most challenging environments."

Tantum IT’s experience with Paratus South Africa has been highly positive. Installations were completed professionally and on schedule, with quick resolution of any issues. The exceptional support and service from Paratus South Africa have reinforced Tantum IT’s decision to continue the partnership.

Bossie Matthyser, Resort Manager at Doornkop, shared his feedback: "Since the installation of the LEO solution at Doornkop, latency has dropped from 1 000ms to 100ms, and both upload and download speeds have improved dramatically. Saving 16 high-resolution photos to our shared folder now takes just 45 seconds instead of seven minutes per photo. Communication on Signal and WhatsApp has also improved significantly. I can’t fault the service and the solution that Paratus South Africa has given us – it’s shifted our business into another and higher gear."

Tantum IT plans to further utilise Paratus to support its growth and expand its service offerings. As new opportunities and challenges arise, particularly in remote areas, Tantum IT will continue collaborating with Paratus to explore LEO and other connectivity solutions. This ongoing partnership is crucial for maintaining Tantum IT’s reputation for delivering reliable and high-quality IT services.

Paratus South Africa

Paratus South Africa is part of the Paratus Group, which is the largest privately owned pan-African network services operator. As an independent provider for last-mile connectivity, Paratus SA has grown to become a full-spectrum, end-to-end services aggregator, and managed service partner. Paratus SA prides itself on keeping its customers connected, wherever they are located, by delivering specialist satellite solutions to bridge the gaps left by traditional terrestrial radio access networks. To further support its service offering, Paratus recently built South Africa’s newest state-of-the-art carrier neutral teleport - the Goedehoop Teleport in Doornkloof, Pretoria.

Its partnerships with Eutelsat and OneWeb reinforce Paratus South Africa’s commitment and ability to offer the full suite of LEO and GEO satellite services. With the backing of the Paratus Group’s robust network, Paratus SA offers customers a range of network service solutions including internet, SD-WAN, and satellite solutions, to provide unlimited connectivity.

Paratus

Paratus is committed to raising the bar for providing quality connectivity in Africa. 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 the continent. Among its many and diverse achievements, the group has invested in and launched the East-to-West Africa fiber route and the express route from Johannesburg to the rest of the world.

The Group has operations in 15 African countries and employs approximately 800 people across the group. The business extends further to provide satellite connectivity-focused services in more than 30 African countries. 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, the UK and the USA.

Born and bred in Africa, Paratus is thinking big as it grows its footprint to deliver Africa’s quality network. The Group aims to deliver real value and services to communities across Africa, while making a positive contribution to transformation in terms of both the people and the environment.

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Paratus SA boosts Tantum IT’s connectivity with Eutelsat OneWeb solution

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