04 November 2024

Intelsat has provided a solution to help internet service providers and telecom operators improve their service coverage in West Africa.

The ‘Intelsat CellBackhaul’ platform is based in the Open Access Data Centres (OADC) data centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The new solution involves connecting telecom towers in remote areas to the main network using satellites.

“Satellite technology is essential to bridge the digital divide. To connect unconnected populations in rural and remote areas, satellite backhaul is often the most viable option for a fast, reliable and cost-effective connectivity solution,” said Rhys Morgan, vice president for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at Intelsat.

This initiative is expected to help improve internet coverage and access in West Africa. According to the West African Regulators Assembly (WARA), only 43.2% of the sub-region’s population is connected to the internet.