Netcom Africa, Ltd.

The Internet has evolved from e-mail and file transfer to that of VoIP, entertainment based graphics and media-rich web sites, necessitating greater bandwidth. The demand and supply of multimedia content further fuels the need for broadband networks. Internet subscribers are increasingly dissatisfied with the slow speed of traditional modem access via the Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN), which limit the speed to 56Kbps. Globally, operators of fiber, cable, xDSL, terrestrial wireless and satellite networks are competing to address the growing demand for broadband services. However, in the western African market where little suitable cable or ADSL-capable copper lines exist, the limitation of terrestrial infrastructure hampers the deployment of broadband services. For the delivery of high speed Internet services and multimedia rich content, satellites have unique advantages over land cables and other terrestrial networks. Satellites have the capability to readily deliver broadband interactive services to an entire continent ubiquitously. Satellites can provide mass populations with immediate access to high speed Internet service and high quality multimedia at speeds up to 50 times faster than the average dial-up connection. As the deployment of this “instant infrastructure” is highly flexible and scaleable, satellites may be the only effective means of providing broadband services for many areas, especially in the western African market.