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Intelsat has unveiled its CellBackhaul solution in Nigeria as part of a larger initiative to enhance connectivity across Africa. This new solution will integrate with existing platforms in several African countries, providing connectivity to millions through thousands of cell towers.
Since 2018, Intelsat, in collaboration with Africa Mobile Networks (AMN), has installed over 3,000 rural satellite base stations in various African nations, extending telecommunications services to over 8 million people by 2023. The companies are planning further expansions in Madagascar, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Despite these efforts, Intelsat highlighted that sub-Saharan Africa continues to face significant connectivity challenges, with a 59% gap in mobile broadband usage and a 15% coverage shortfall. Almost half of the 400 million people lacking mobile broadband coverage reside in this region.
The high costs and slow pace of traditional infrastructure deployment, compounded by low returns on investment, particularly in rural areas, have been major obstacles to improving connectivity. In response, Intelsat’s CellBackhaul solution represents a significant step towards closing the digital divide in Nigeria and the broader African continent.
Rhys Morgan, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), emphasized the crucial role of satellite technology in bridging the connectivity gap. He explained that satellite backhaul offers a fast, reliable, and cost-effective way to extend broadband coverage to rural and remote areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable or insufficient.
The Intelsat CellBackhaul solution enables mobile operators to cost-effectively expand global cellular broadband to underserved areas. Offering high-throughput global connectivity, the service benefits both individuals and organizations daily, including emergency services and those in need of reliable communications in remote locations.
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