Including satellite services in South Africa’s broadband project may increase the penetration rate to 100% eight years from now. This, according to the Department of Communications General Manager Norman Munzhelele.
According to Mr. Munzhelele, the potential role of internet by satellite is crucial if the country wants to improve remote connectivity in remote regions. Currently, the national broadband project covers 30% of South Africa, but including satellite technology can increased the broadband provision to up to 75% of the population.
Other experts agree that telecom operators will not find it viable to use fibre networks in delivering broadband services to remote regions and even rural communities, since there are fewer potential users in the said locations. David Williams, the CEO of Avanti Communications, said satellite is the ideal solution to large tracts of remote lands cut off from terrestrial telecommunications network.
Mobile operators across Africa are finding it difficult to connect remote regions to their main backbone networks. Satellite broadband may prove to be a key in answering the last mile problem.
