[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-15-10] SES Astra is looking to bring its Astra2Connect satellite broadband service to new markets in Africa through a deal signed Oct. 13 with South African information and communications technology provider SkyeVine.
    SkyeVine, a joint venture between Q-Kon and Ellies Holding, will provide the broadband service to ISPs, corporations and public institutions for resale in sub-Saharan Africa.
While the SkyeVine agreement is the second for SES’ Astra2Connect broadband platform Africa, Astra Broadband Services Vice President of Technology Patrick Biewer told Satellite TODAY Insider said that there is strong potential for future deals in the region. “A large majority of the African population does not have access to Internet services, which is a stumbling block in the development process for areas such as education, health care, agriculture and economic activities. With Astra2Connect, we are overcoming the major infrastructure development hurdles imposed to terrestrial infrastructures and very well positioned to develop further sustainable growth opportunities.”
    With 65,000 Astra2Connect subscribers, SES Astra is trying to penetrate broadband markets in both Europe and Africa — two very different environments that pose different challenges, said Biewer. “The average Internet penetration in Africa is 6.8 percent (ITU, 2009) of the population, with a fixed-line penetration below 2 percent in many African countries. This creates an enormous digital divide when compared to developed countries in Europe. Terrestrial solutions cannot overcome this challenge in a cost-effective way due to the huge distances in Africa. In that respect, as demonstrated in Europe, Astra2Connect is the most cost efficient, easiest and fastest broadband technology to deploy and certainly well positioned to take on further growth in Africa.”
    In rural Africa, where 90 percent of the population lives without electricity, meeting basic telecommunication requirements can be exceptionally difficult, Biewer said. “Overcoming these barriers with innovative solutions will be key to the timing of further growth development. With the market potential and sustainable needs for satellite communication services in Africa, we are confident that Astra2Connect based services in Africa will grow very successfully over time.”

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