Satellite backhaul can be a “communications enabler” for millions of people worldwide living in rural regions, where mobile connectivity services are challenging to deliver. Whether it’s a small rural community where people live and work or a remotely located enterprise job site, people need connectivity. In fact, the World Bank estimates that emerging countries can generate a 1.38% increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for every 10% increase in broadband service penetration. While terrestrial solutions, such as fixed telco and wireless backhaul, are commercially viable in densely populated, urban areas, these connectivity solutions can struggle to be viable in many rural environments. A better option for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) in these scenarios is satellite backhaul due to its unique advantages.
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According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s (GSMA) The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022 report, 5% of the world’s population, or 400 million people, still do not have access to a mobile broadband network. The key to bridging this digital divide is Satellite Communications (SatCom) service providers, who provide Internet access to historically unserved and underserved regions (e.g., rural areas and developing countries) via satellite constellations in space.
Enhanced connectivity and broader coverage help drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for users. Unfortunately, in Africa, being connected to a mobile network is not a reality for everyone, although enormous strides have been made in recent years. To this day, 1 in 5 people living in Sub-Saharan Africa still does not have mobile broadband coverage—more than 200 million people. Penetrating the African content is something many Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like Vodacom are working hard on, considering the enormous population that resides there. But there are some unique characteristics of Africa that must be considered before reaching out to its customer base.