07 May 2024

Daniel Batty, space & policy analyst, Access Partnership

It is trite to state that we live in the age of data. Advancements in computing have augmented every sector of society and the economy, with these effects set to increase drastically with the introduction and adoption of artificial intelligence in different sectors. However, this is dependent on access to high-quality data, which is the lifeblood of computing and decision-making. An increase in the quantity and quality of data is directly proportional to an increase in service offerings and insights.

One of the most influential and important data streams impacting development initiatives in Africa is geospatial data generated by Earth observation satellites. These satellites may be fitted with a number of different camera lenses and sensors, enabling the satellite to capture a wide range of different data. This may include standard optical images, thermal imagery to monitor heat levels and outputs, and synthetic aperture radar to monitor changes in soil, urbanisation, and deforestation. The data captured by these lenses and sensors form the basis for important government and private sector decision-making on town planning, agriculture investment, mining and mineral extraction, ocean conservation, and fisheries, etc.

02 May 2024

MSTelecom will utilise the Angosat-2 telecoms satellite to improve broadband connectivity services in Angola.

The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Angolan National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN). Under the terms of the agreement, MSTelecom will integrate its fibre optic and microwave transmission networks into the GGPEN satellite platform. This will accelerate the ISP’s network coverage to reach more people.