Du Pont launches satellite telephone and Internet solution for African businesses
A broadband satellite-based solution that offers businesses throughout sub-Saharan Africa robust, fast, affordable, all-in-one telephony and Internet connectivity, has been launched by Du Pont Telecom.
The new Du Pont BizSat solution, which is powered by Skyevine, a joint venture company between Ellies and Q-KON, delivers ubiquitous coverage throughout Sub-Saharan Africa without the need for supporting copper, fibre, cellular or DECT infrastructure.
“It enables organisations in even the most remote, under-developed or under-serviced regions of sub-Saharan Africa to have full telephone and Internet communications that’s on par with that available in developed, urban areas,” says Graeme Victor, CEO of Du Pont Telecom. “It is also ideal for those areas in which the quality of existing connectivity offerings is inadequate.”
The only additional equipment needed – apart from that required for any conventional broadband Internet connectivity or VoIP telephony solution – is a one-metre satellite dish.
With no terrestrial infrastructure that can be compromised, the system is immune to cable and copper theft.
“It can therefore provide a viable alternative for those periods when a normal telephone or Internet connection is down, whether this is due to cable theft or even power failures. Indeed, Du Pont BizSat is a lifeline for businesses that cannot afford to have the Internet or their switchboard go down for a few days or even a few hours,” Victor adds. Once Du Pont BizSat is installed, its performance is similar to that offered by terrestrial alternatives delivering bandwidth speeds of 256/4096 kbps for upload/download.
In addition, users are less like to lose signal or suffer interference as a result of adverse weather conditions than they do with their DSTV satellite television broadcasts. Victor explains that one of the reasons Du Pont opted for the SkyeVine platform is because it utilises the Ku band for communication, rather than the higher bandwidth Ka band.
“Ka delivers focused regionalised beams and does not offer ubiquitous cover. It is far also more susceptible to signal attenuation in rainy conditions making it less reliable in coastal areas where compensation in the form of larger, more expense antennas is required. Ku is far more robust and is delivered using standardised equipment, thus reducing the cost of equipment.
“In addition, the bandwidth is not subject to any shaping or fair use policies and the entire system is hosted in and delivered out of South Africa, which contributes to the quality of voice and speed of Internet access,” he adds.
Pricing
There is a once-off charge for the required hardware of approximately R7 500 (excl VAT) and an installation fee of about R2 500 (excl VAT) depending on the location.
Thereafter, a 1GB connection costs R850 (excl VAT) per month, which is comparable to the total cost (including line rental, DSL rental and ISP fees) of a basic terrestrial business ADSL service. A Du Pont BizSat3GB connection is R1 700 (excl VAT) per month. Additional bandwidth can be purchased at an average of R555 (excl VAT) per GB.
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