Satellite operator ABS and satellite services provider iSAT Africa have launched managed data services on the ABS-3A satellite. The satellite will be operating on the ST Engineering iDirect Newtec Dialog platform for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
Deployment of the platform is expected to deliver cost-effective, robust and high-speed broadband services for oil & gas firms, companies in general and NGOs. The services are suitable for remote sites in Africa, the Middle East and Europe not connected via terrestrial networks as well as for locations that require diversification of network infrastructures and back-up services for fibre links.
The Dialog platform provides high versatility and supports MF-TDMA and SCPC technologies with advanced bandwidth management features. The satellite links are operated through a dedicated antenna on ABS-3A at the ABS teleport in Lario, Northern Italy, which offers high reliability, redundancy and interconnectivity to all the main data centres across Europe.
Commenting on the partnership, Rakesh Kukreja, Managing Director of iSAT Africa, said: “At iSAT Africa, we aim to bridge the digital gap in rural and remote African communities by using IP centric 2G/3G/4G technologies. This requires a backhaul that is cost-effective coupled with high performance and availability. ABS-3A, a high-performance satellite, provides excellent coverage of Africa and Europe. At the same time, the Dialog platform offers us a single management platform for all markets, starting from a smaller site within a rural community to full macro sites for thousands of subscribers for voice and data. The most important part of this partnership is making services economically viable for rural communities.”
Pieter Paul Mooijman, Regional Vice President Africa at ST Engineering iDirect, added: “ISAT is a long-standing and valued customer. With the first deployment of a Dialog hub, it is expanding its portfolio with ST Engineering iDirect. Using its multi-service capability, Dialog will allow ISAT to move into new business areas as and when required, resulting in a high degree of operational flexibility and agility. Combined with ABS’ reach across the region, this is a winning solution for providing connectivity to remote areas of Africa and EMEA.”
Paolo Pusterla, MD of EMEA at ABS, stated: “The partnership with ISAT & ABS reaffirms our commitment to deliver flexible, rapidly deployable satellite internet solutions to a growing customer base, notably in Africa, with the highest industry SLAs. By using ST Engineering iDirect’s technology, we are providing state-of-the-art and spectral-efficient connectivity to support key verticals across the whole EMEA region.”
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