O3b Networks has announced an agreement to provide high-speed, low-latency capacity to Somtel, a leading telco in Somalia, providing a range of mobile voice and data services including 3G and the county’s first 4G network.
Somtel has contracted substantial O3b Trunk capacity in Somalia as it seeks to serve growing consumer and corporate demand in its core markets. The O3b service is due to formally launch in 2014. O3b Trunk products reportedly offer lower delay than long-haul fibre with a round trip latency of less than 150 milliseconds, delivering high-quality voice and video in the satellite industry at an affordable cost.
Ismail Dualeh, CTO of Somtel, says: “At present, connectivity is neither reliable nor adequate in Somalia. The O3b solution will give Somtel the chance to bring vastly improved internet connectivity with better performance. Customers will experience greater reliability, better quality voice calls and be able to stream video and enroll in e-learning amongst other applications.”
Omar Trujillo, Vice-President Africa and LATAM for O3b, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Somtel in Somalia. This is another great example of how the O3b solution can help bring a bandwidth-starved region new opportunities for domestic and international growth and development. With the lack of fibre options in the Somali Republic, and the cost and latency issues associated with geostationary satellites, O3b is well placed to support many customers in Africa.”
Add Comment