Vodacom is a South African telecommunications company that provides mobile and internet services, aiming to bridge the digital divide in Africa. It partners with companies like Amazon (Project Kuiper) and AST SpaceMobile to extend 4G/5G coverage to remote areas using satellite technology, offering solutions where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is challenging or costly. Vodacom also explores using satellite services for IoT applications and provides satellite connectivity services for businesses, ensuring reliable communication links globally.
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Vodafone/Vodacom expanded its partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper earlier this week.
Amazon previously signed an agreement with Vodafone and Vodacom to use its LEO network to enhance cellular reach in Europe and Africa.
Amazon previously signed an agreement with Vodafone and Vodacom to use Amazon Leo’s LEO network to enhance cellular reach in Europe and Africa.
Vodafone directly operates in 21 countries, of which 11 are in Europe and eight are in Africa through Vodacom.
Vodafone and Vodacom agreed to use Amazon’s envisioned network of 3,200 low Earth orbit satellites to bring 0.004 kg and 0.005 kg connectivity to areas that are challenging or expensive to serve with terrestrial networks.
Initial Project Kuiper service pilots will be available for Vodafone, Vodacom, and other enterprise customers by the end of 2024 after launching an unspecified number of satellites.
Intelsat has been selected by Vodacom DRC to provide Ku-band satellite services.
Didier Kabongo is the Chief Network Officer of Vodacom DRC and supports using Intelsat’s Ku-band managed service as an alternative backhaul to support Vodacom DRC’s rural expansion objectives.
Vodacom’s Vision 2025 strategy includes an "Inclusion for All" pillar that brings together available transport networks and hybrid power solutions to enhance and upgrade rural communication services.
Intelsat will provide an end-to-end managed CellBackhaul service as an alternative backhaul solution to certain Vodacom DRC sites.
Intelsat’s Ku-band capacity and the CellBackhaul managed service enable Vodacom DRC to extend mobile connectivity to areas where fiber or microwave backhaul networks are not available or unfeasible to deploy.
The new Newtec Dialog hubs enabled Vodacom to migrate its VSAT-based 0.002 kg network to 0.003 kg across 150 Base Transceiver Station sites with the Base Station Controller located in Kinshasa.