Gilat Satcom Creates Low Cost Solution for Nano-ISPs

[Via Satellite 03-31-2015] Gilat Satcom has released a portfolio of connectivity solutions for remote communities in Africa to access a satellite network for prices starting at $1 a month. The company’s “Village Island” offerings provide satellite solutions for low Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) customers in rural areas.

The Village Islands portfolio has three components that customers can use individually or together: Basic Island, Wi-Fi Island, and Cellular Island; each offer different degrees of connectivity. The network solutions provide broadband, Voice Over IP (VoIP) and Video over IP.

According to Gilat Satcom, a private village nano Internet Service Provider (nano-ISP) will be responsible for selling the services direct in the village, billing users and paying the monthly service charge to the provider. The nano-ISP can be a government or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), private companies, schools, religious institutions or a village chief. Gilat Satcom supplies detailed business plans to nano-ISPs to help establish profitable and commercially sustainable services.

“Providing affordable access in Africa is an ongoing theme for the telecoms industry. There are many entrepreneurial people living in rural Africa who would gladly run a network if they had the tools and know-how available to make it work. We have worked for a long time to provide a solution which is both affordable for the village end user and profitable for the entire supply chain,” said Eran Yoran, director of marketing and business development at Gilat Satcom.