Dubai-based Wiseband has launched “Lucky 7”, a bandwidth-on-demand broadband service over Avanti’s Hylas 2 through its reseller network to corporate, banking and small business customers Libya where high-speed internet services are reportedly in short supply.
A service provider in the UAE, for instance, can apply to manufacture the antenna – all he needs is a 10mt x 10mt facility. He will be given all the manufacturing tools and raw materials. He can then sell the antennas at prices as competitive as USD10,000
Ahmed Hassan Afify, Founder and CEO of Wiseband, in conversation with SatellitePro ME also outlined a radical new approach to selling satellite solutions in the region.
On Lucky 7
“With 2Mbps up and 8Mbps down, we are targeting corporate customers. With an office in Benghazi, we sell to around 350 resellers and are looking at a potential of around 25,000 corporate customers across Libya. The service we are offering is bandwidth on demand and not a flat fee.
“I am particularly excited about another project – creating global franchises for the manufacture of antennas. Having worked in this region for the past 15 years, I am personally frustrated by the lack of transfer of technology to the region. The solutions providers have to depend on outside help for every aspect of the deployment. So we are currently testing an antenna at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
“One of our primary aims is to reduce the cost of the antenna by ensuring in-country production. With countries such as Brazil you have 100% duty on such products manufactured outside the country. A service provider in the UAE, for instance, can apply to manufacture the antenna – all he needs is a 10mt x 10mt facility. He will be given all the manufacturing tools and raw materials. He can then sell the antennas at prices as competitive as USD10,000. As the franchise owner, we don’t get paid till our franchisee sells the antennas. We have already received considerable interest from many dealers across the globe. Regarding type approval from operators and other regulators, we undertake to get it done. In six months, we should be in a position to launch this project.”
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