BLU benefits from ‘LTE in a Box’
13 December 2024
In June 2013, BLU was one of three Ghanaian-owned companies to receive a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) license to launch a new 4G LTE network. Despite Ghana’s already saturated mobile market, the BWA licenses were only made available to companies that were 100% owned and operated in Ghana.
The license came with a strict deadline to launch LTE services within 18 months of the award date. BLU’s leadership knew that they would face fierce competition from the other LTE license holders, and that it would not simply suffice to be the first to enter the new market; new customers and their loyalty would be won on service differentiation, network speed and reliability, and affordability.
Read the full article Nigeria scores solar-powered public Wi-Fi courtesy of HFCL
13 December 2024
Nigeria, known as Africa’s largest oil producer, faces formidable challenges due to its poor internet infrastructure. The country grapples with building a robust connectivity network, complicated by challenging geography.
The digital divide has been a persistent challenge in the country, limiting widespread internet access for a significant portion of the population. Despite the increasing ownership of mobile devices, accessibility and affordability remain key barriers, particularly in rural areas and underserved urban communities.
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Tracking and tackling Africa’s poachers with satellite IoT
31 October 2024
While governments and charities around the world make strides towards eliminating poaching, the odds have long been stacked against those involved in protection and in favour of the poacher. The sheer vastness of national parks in parallel with the financial gains from ‘trophies,’ such as elephant tusks and rhino horn, are exacerbated by poor terrestrial connectivity so crucial to tracking animals, organisational communication and the detection of unauthorised human activity. Here, Alastair MacLeod, CEO of satellite connectivity specialist Ground Control, argues that satellite IoT (Internet of things) is playing a vital role in turning the tide.
Read the full article Last mile wireless connectivity at Bathopele Mine
07 October 2024
The Bathopele Mine, run by Sibanye-Stillwater, is located in the north-western part of South Africa in Rustenburg. It represents one of the largest platinum reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 5.3 million ounces of platinum and an annual production capacity of 120,000 ounces.
A key enabler for digitalisation in underground mining is securing mine-wide, robust and resilient broadband wireless connectivity. Such digital infrastructure must operate and be maintained in a harsh environment. While legacy fibre installations are established and commonplace, these are generally terminated with a network switch at level access or waiting places with limited connectivity available up to the last mile. Without connectivity in the last mile, there is limited opportunity to receive and trend real-time data for asset and personnel intelligence and optimisation.
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