Satellite’s communication comeback
Over the past five years the cost of satellite bandwidth has dropped by 50% and the cost of VSAT terminals has also dropped.
Maximum throughput speeds have improved dramatically from 20 to 25 megabits per second (Mbps) to 120Mbps over the past 10 years, says Geoff Hardwick, MD of Gateway SA.
Satellite it is often used to support ATM networks, bank branches, retail chains, filling stations and other applications that require consistent communication over a widely spread network. It is widely used as back-up for other forms of communication, is often the sole means of communication for farms, game lodges, clinics and other remote operations, and is ideal for distributing information on a one-to-many basis.
“We are dealing with a company that is looking at distributing promotional content overnight to multiple stores.”
Smaller VSAT terminals with similar throughput capabilities to an ADSL line are now available for as little as $600.
Hardwick says a pan-European network was recently launched to provide data communication services to homes that are not in reach of an ADSL service, and there is an opportunity to build similar networks in SA.
In the UK, aids awareness and other health-related video content is distributed to clinics over satellite and the same could be done in SA.
Until the recent deregulation of telecommunication infrastructure, Sentech, Transtel and Telkom had the monopoly over satellite services in SA, but issuing new electronic communications network services licences to hundreds of service providers will create competition for the first time.
For example, Gateway Communication has been building satellite networks in other parts of Africa for 15 years and can do the same in SA.
The company is building a satellite teleport in Pretoria with five to six large antennas that will point to multiple satellites.
One of Gateway’s multinational customers in the financial sector is hosting applications for its global operations from a central data centre in Johannesburg. It involves a dedicated satellite connection capable of carrying millions of transactions at 6Mbps to 12Mbps.
“Many corporate organisations are looking to expand into Africa and maintain control over these operations from SA,” he says.
Satellite and broadband discussion
Business Day
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