Tech

Africa Mobile Networks pens deal with Starlink to connect millions in Africa

Published

1 year ago

August 16, 2023

Pan-African mobile operators, Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) has entered into a commercial agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to use Starlink constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to connect its station bases across the African continent.

Mike Darcy, CEO of AMN Group, who made the announcement on Wednesday, said the deal would see AMN’s mobile network migrate to high-speed and low-latency services to “serve even the most remote and rural communities in the world.”

According to Darcy, the partnership will pull their vision closer than ever and will “enable AMN to bring 3G and 4G services to rural communities with high quality of service, and deliver ever-increasing amounts of bandwidth and volumes.”

“We are already making rapid progress in Nigeria where we have over 1,000 operational base stations today, to connect more unconnected communities, and we are seeing a huge appetite for data services in many of these places,” Darcy said.

“AMN plans to deploy Starlink terminals at sites in Nigeria during 2023, as part of a larger project to connect 700 additional rural communities before the end of the year.

“By collaborating with Starlink, we can support significant growth both in terms of the number of sites and services offered,” Darcy added.

The CEO reiterated that AMN was committed to its vision of a fully connected world where no community of significant size was deprived of telecommunications services for the social, educational and economic benefit of the population.

“AMN has made significant progress towards this vision, with telecommunications services now accessible to more than 10 million people in nearly 4,000 communities in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as a direct result of the AMN towers.”

Chad Gibbs, SpaceX Vice President for Starlink Business Operations, who also commented on the partnership, said:

“We are excited to work with AMN on our shared vision of a fully connected world. Today’s announcement of Africa’s first cellular network to use Starlink for the backhaul is an important step that will bring high-speed connectivity to millions of people on the continent for the first time. especially in rural and isolated communities.”

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Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

10 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.