How do mobile operators think of satellite backhaul and satellite internet? Do you really care whether satellite communication is integrated into network planning?
Kenya is one of the fastest growing Africa's major markets. The population is about 40 million. Safaricom, the country's largest mobile phone operator, boasts 18 million subscribers. Market analysts believe that while the market currently achieves a penetration rate of 60-70%, growth in the data service sector will be the driving force for Safaricom's growth. Regarding the company's network planning situation, Nzioka Waita (director of corporate operations) said its 3G wireless broadband service has been in use for the past four years. Wireless broadband connection is mainly due to use of mobile phone, dongle, laptop. Waita said the company will continue to recommend using such mobile communication devices.
The 4G network has not yet been fully developed and it is still in the formation stage. Whether it will be launched soon will depend on spectrum availability, he said. The use of video requires a lot of bandwidth. As a result, it was necessary to upgrade or replace the traditional mobile broadband system with an IP / MPLS system.
Fiber is the main option of Safaricom and satellite communication is similar. According to Mr. Weita, satellite demand is still strong. Communications satellites, especially in the northern part of Kenya, play an important role in the country's mobile backhaul and wireless network communications. The high cost of the terrestrial infrastructure is due to its large area and its few network users. Satellites will function as a reliable backup system for international services, especially during inconvenient events that could damage submarine network systems. We expect that the demand for satellite communications is low for waiting time, but because more land-based network systems will be introduced in areas where commercial satellites are prolonged.
Another major local company in the mobile communications market in Africa and the Middle East is the MTN Group, currently with 150 million subscribers and 110 million Africans. MTN African consumers consume about 700 Mhz of satellite communication capacity. MTN MUST rely on satellite and mobile backhaul to serve West Africa. Kamal Fayed, general manager of MTN Global Carrier Services, said that satellite communications and mobile backhaul are important for West Africa's business.
Mobile operators plan to further deploy 3G and 4G networks in major cities related to ground infrastructure, but high speed broadband is a major challenge for many remote areas such as towns and small villages. In such areas, mobile backhaul through the satellite is necessary to cost-effectively distribute voice and data signals.
Fayed recently pointed out that the satellite capacity requirement of the company surprised him. Demand for satellites in the past five years has dramatically increased, and recently demand has stabilized.
