New Communication Technologies to Bridge the Digital Divide in Africa: Satellite.  Wi-Fi.  VoIP.  GSM.  Broadband

Chelsea Village, London, UK, March 15th, 16th & 17th

Eutelsat

 

With capacity on communications satellites concentrated in geostationary orbit over the Gulf of Guinea, Africa sits at the heart of Eutelsat's activity.

 

North Africa has been included in Eutelsat's global footprint since the launch of our first satellite in 1983 and our reach has steadily expanded since to embrace the entire continent through new satellites optimised for direct-to-home broadcasting, television distribution and contribution links, rural telephony, data broadcasting, distance-learning and Internet access. As well as supporting Africa's domestic and regional requirements, Eutelsat has developed solutions enabling direct connectivity with Europe and the Middle East, most recently through W3A.This new satellite is optimised for broadband communications through hub stations located in Europe and Africa.

 

 

Codan

 

Codan is an acknowledged leader in the design, manufacture, sale and support of RF Subsystems for use in both C-Band and Ku-Band satellite earth stations. The product families include 70/140MHz Transceivers, Block Up Converters (BUCs) and stand alone Solid State Power Amplifiers.

 

Codan's Satellite products are designed for exceptional reliability and are often deployed in extremely remote and harsh environments. They offer superior technical performance, are backed by an outstanding worldwide support and service network, and meet the needs of the most demanding satellite operational and regulatory requirements.

 

The company's Satellite customers include many of the world's leading system integrators and service providers who use satellite systems to service commercial and government telecommunications markets globally.

 

 

Econet Satellite Services

Econet Satellite Services Ltd (ESS) is one of the UK’s premier independent data, voice and Internet service providers, specialising in providing wholesale satellite and international carrier services to independent mobile and fixed telecommunications operators in developing countries. Econet Satellite Services' products include: Carrier and Traffic Management Services - A complete range of wholesale international carrier services including calling card and VoIP services. IP Long Distance Connectivity - Cost-effectively servicing the needs of independent operators wishing to establish multiple links between their network and the rest of the world. Teleport Co-Location, Hosting & Bandwidth - The rapid provision of connectivity with operators via a convenient central point. GSM IP Satellite Backhaul – providing cost effective transmission between components of operators’ network in the absence of reliable terrestrial systems. Route Management, Network Design, Operation and Transfer services Network Design and Management Econet Satellite Services owns and operates multiple satellite ground facilities north of London utilising its two satellite transponders, while switching equipment is located in central London serving as an additional point from where ESS provides interconnection to telecommunications operators worldwide.

 

 

IP Planet

 

IP Planet Network Ltd has established itself as the leading provider of Internet backbone connectivity over Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) satellites in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. IP Planet's highly flexible and cost-effective solutions help Internet Service Providers and corporate networks to save costs, improve service, and become more competitive. Currently we are working on closing the "digital divide" in many different countries, providing cost-effective Internet backbone connectivity and complete Internet solutions for incumbent PTT's, competitive Telco companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), corporate and Cyber-Café customers.

 

Our Internet Services are Comprehensive

 

Complementing its satellite backbone connectivity services and Internet VSAT services, IP Planet is now leveraging its manpower expertise by offering complete turnkey solutions to ISPs - Internet Telephony (VoIP); design and integration of IP networks; LIR services; network auditing; training and consulting. In addition, IP Planet is providing Data Storage solutions by Network Applianceú to the telecom, Banking, Oil &Gas and Government segments. This complete set of services turns IP Planet into a "one-stop shop" for our customers.

 

Recently, IP Planet is expanding its service-portfolio to provide turnkey communication services on the new SAT-3 submarine fiber-optic cable. This new cable, connecting South Africa and Portugal, with landing points in several West-Africa countries, opens up new opportunities for voice, data and Internet communication. Our fiber communication services on SAT-3 are based on the cutting edge MPLS protocol and offer cost-effective solutions to West African countries for their International communication needs.

 

 

Gilat Satellite Networks

 

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILTF) is a leading provider of satellite and hybrid telecommunication solutions and operations. Gilat operates under two business units, Gilat Network Solutions (GNS) and Gilat Network Operations (GNO). With over 500,000 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) shipped in more than 80 countries across six continents, GNS delivers satellite communication solutions to operators worldwide. GNO provides end-to-end enterprise and consumer networking as well as rural communication operations. Gilat’s headquarters is located in Petah Tikva, Israel, Spacenet operation center is in McLean, Virginia and rural operations centers are in Latin America. In addition, Gilat has 14 local offices and 4 service facilities worldwide.

 

 

Hughes Network Systems

 

Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc., is the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite solutions for businesses and consumers, with over 800,000 systems shipped to customers in more than 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access and IP-based networks, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY® brand. HNS’ DIRECWAY terminals are based on the global standard, IPoS (IP over Satellite) ratified by ETSI and TIA. Applications include multicast/broadcast content delivery, interactive distance learning, Internet/intranet access, SCADA, and Voice over IP (VoIP). HNS offers satellite communications solutions throughout the African continent and as a gateway for international applications. HNS holds more than 50% share of the African VSAT market.  For more information, please visit our web site at www.hns.com or contact us at globalsales@hns.com.

 

 

ViaSat

 

ViaSat offers a broad range of innovative satellite networking products for applications from thin-route voice and data to broadband multimedia communications.

 

Only ViaSat offers customers a choice in open standard satellite networking; DVB-RCS or DOCSIS® for satellite. Our technologies connect seamlessly to IP and other networking protocols, and save transponder costs for more efficient networking. LinkStar is our DVB-RCS compatible VSAT for hub-based networking while LINKWAY and Skylinx provide mesh or hybrid networking.

 

Our satellite antenna systems include engineering, design, integration, and test capabilities for satellite communications, telemetry, tracking, remote sensing, and gateways for connecting satellite systems to terrestrial networks.

 

 

Thuraya

 

Thuraya offers cost-effective satellite-based mobile telephone services to nearly one third of the globe. Through its dynamic dual mode handsets and satellite payphones, Thuraya enhances freedom of movement and connectivity.

 

Thuraya’s US$1 billion regional mobile telecommunications via satellite (GMPCS) system helps meet the need for affordable, high-quality mobile phone services to urban hubs as well as remote communities.

 

Through partnership with leading national telecom and mobile communications companies, Thuraya provides blanket-to-blanket coverage to more than 110 countries in Europe, North, Central Africa and large parts Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia: a landmass inhabited by an estimated 2.3 billion people.

 

 

SkyVision

 

SkyVision provides Internet Connectivity services and turn-key IP-based solutions to Internet service providers and enterprises, using satellite, in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. With over 150 customers in 32 countries, providing over 800Mbps across multiple satellite platforms SkyVision's service includes C and Ku-band based service, VoIP, Space Segment for mobile operators and TV, DVB/SCPC, Shiron and Idirect based solutions, networking consulting and ground station design.

 

 

Plenexis

 

Plenexis Group is a global, full-service provider of satellite-based turnkey solutions for business communications. Plenexis has a 10 year plus track record of success in the international satellite business and is the European market leader in corporate telecommunications networks via satellite.

 

Many governmental agencies and leading multinational companies from the oil & gas industry, producers, trade, service and media companies have chosen Plenexis as their satellite services provider: All share the need for reliable and secure connections between their headquarters and remote offices.

 

The product and service portfolio ranges from connections providing satellite links between two locations, through to wide-ranging global corporate networks with applications in the fields of data, voice and image communications, up to the most varied distribution services and elaborate multimedia broad-band applications.

 

Plenexis’ headquarters is in Bonn, further locations are in Hamelin, Moscow, Stockholm, Istanbul and London. Plenexis operates teleports in Germany and Russia, gateways in UK, Scandinavia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. 4,500 permanently installed satellite terminals, a pool of 200 service partners in more than 100 countries and operational licences for antennas in many countries complete Plenexis' global presence.

 

In January 2005 Plenexis was acquired by Stratos Global Corporation, a leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions.

 

 

Sky 2 Net

 

Sky 2 Net LTD, a British company based in London UK with commercial and operational offices in the Middle East is a leading provider of solutions and services based on satellite communication.  Sky 2 Net has built a large base of customers in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.  Through Sky 2 Net services thousands of customers are getting access to Internet, VoIP, teleconference etc.

 

At present we have more than 400 corporate customers that include banks, mines, NGOs, government branches, private companies, cyber cafes and small to medium ISPs.  Sky 2 Net is providing services over six satellites that cover the service areas.

 

Sky 2 Net’s vision is to extend services to remotes places in Africa, Asia and the Middle East by introducing state of the art technology that is “human friendly” to less developed places and connecting them to the rest of the world.

 

Sky 2 Net is collaborating with leading industry participants to implement this vision.

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