By Brian Jakins, Regional Vice President, Africa
It’s no understatement to say the infrastructure of Africa is complicated. The continent’s topology, economics and regulatory environments vary by country and region – which is no minor detail with 52 countries and thousands of different ethnic groups across the continent. As a result, serving the disparate needs of enterprises, governments and communities across Africa can be a challenge for mobile providers and network operators.
This is where the Intelsat Globalized Network – with its integrated satellite and terrestrial technology, services and capabilities – enables operators in Africa to open new markets, drive new revenue streams and ensure their customers enjoy the most reliable broadband communications.
Here are just three of the hurdles facing network operators in Africa today:
- Increasing Broadband Demands – throughout Africa, mobile data consumption is on the rise. More and more people are watching TV and videos on their mobile devices. In fact, more Africans watch videos on mobile screens than on television screens. The rise of apps such as Snapchat and WhatsApp are adding to the pressure for data connectivity, putting a strain on the mobile networks.
- Increasing Costs of Infrastructure and Management – more and more network operators are shying away from infrastructure investments. In some areas – particularly in Western Africa – a tougher economic climate is spurring operators to outsource more in order to focus on brand management, adding revenue-generating activities and shareholder returns.
- Increasing Complexities – with more technologies and services coming into the region, determining the right solutions to solve communications challenges can be complicated.