S09 CAF 3 2020 Coverage and capacity_Layout 1 18/06/2020 12:34 Page 26
Remote connectivity
COVERAGE AND CAPACITY
Solar power + small cells + satellites = rural connectivity Photo: Intelsat
Brian Jakins, regional vice president, Intelsat, tells Communications Africa about an ongoing partnership with Africa Mobile Networks to enhance rural connectivity: how it works, what services it can enable and the role played by satellite technology in making it happen.
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ATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Intelsat and mobile network infrastructure company Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) entered into a partnership in October of 2018 to accelerate the deployment of mobile connectivity to unserved communities across Africa that many thought were impossible to connect. The mission of AMN is to build mobile network base stations serving rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa that have no existing service. Intelsat describes itself as the operator of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure. By the end of 2019, over 500 remote sites in Africa had AMN’s affordable, solar-powered mobile connectivity solution – powered by over two dozen Intelsat satellites positioned over the continent – and were providing fast, reliable mobile connectivity to people in remote communities. The partnership recently connected its 1,000th remote site, bringing access to 3.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Communications Africa: What are the component parts that make up this solution? Brian Jakins, Regional Vice-President, Intelsat: The low-cost solution, developed by AMN, is powered by a highly reliable, small-cell solarbased system that can be rapidly deployed in less than six hours. AMN has combined its solution with the power, performance and efficiencies of three high-throughput Intelsat Epic satellites, along with our 23 other satellites that cover the African continent. The result is a mobile network infrastructure that is a fast, cost-effective, reliable solution that can help mobile network operators (MNOs) easily scale to meet evolving connectivity demands. Communications Africa: Who sells the service on the ground? Brian Jakins, Intelsat: Relying on Intelsat’s satellite fleet, AMN provides MNOs with a network-as-a-service solution in which AMN builds and operates the ultra-rural network for them. African mobile operators can, as a result, deliver reliable mobile connectivity to communities in subSaharan Africa that many previously thought were impossible to connect. Communications Africa: What challenges did you face in the early stages of this project? How much have you learned to make this a smoother process now? Brian Jakins, Intelsat: Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most difficult and challenging regions of the world to connect because of its geographic complexities and number of remote communities. Intelsat has served Africa for decades, and our team’s expertise, combined with AMN’s deep understanding of the region, has helped us develop optimal solutions that help MNOs grow their subscriber and revenue base, and
“Bringing mobile connectivity to the most rural parts of Africa is not straightforward… it requires hybrid networks and innovative business models” 26 Communications Africa Issue 3 2020
Reaching for the sky...Rural connectivity is a growing phenomenon.
better serve their customers. Bringing mobile connectivity to the most rural parts of Africa is not straightforward, and we have learned that it requires hybrid networks and innovative business models to truly close the business case. Communications Africa: Is satellite connectivity much more affordable to launch, supply and roll out on the ground than it would have been, say, 10 years ago? Do you expect this affordability to continue to impact remote connectivity? Brian Jakins, Intelsat: Over the past few years, the industry has introduced major innovations that have made satellite technology more accessible and more affordable. The power of high-throughput satellites, such as the Intelsat Epic fleet, which delivers 10 times the throughput of a traditional satellite, combined with advances in ground and antenna technology, have lowered the total cost of ownership for mobile operators. Small terminals of less than 10 kg can transmit high throughput, while some antennas can be fitted onto car roofs for communications on the move. One of our 19-year old satellites recently returned to service with an extra five years of life following its docking with the first-ever Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1). This is proving to be an innovative and costeffective way to better support our customers. At Intelsat, we are also working on innovative business models, such as the one with AMN, that enable MNOs to extend their coverage with minimal opex and capex risk. Already, Intelsat and AMN have connected 1,000 remote sites, bringing access to 3.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, and are on track to connect a total of around 12 million Africans by this time next year. Yet, there is still room for improvement; according to the ITU, in 2019, only 28.2 per cent of the population in Africa had www.communicationsafrica.com
