Seacom, originally known for its submarine cable network, has recently expanded its technological frontier by introducing a novel satellite communication service in South Africa. This operation leverages the capabilities of compact satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO), deploying the service through a partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb.
The service is currently operational, having successfully concluded all necessary testing, and is now available to Seacom’s business clients. This service is aimed at providing these enterprises with an additional option to incorporate LEO satellite connectivity into their existing network frameworks and business operations.
The timing of this expansion is notable as it comes on the heels of a significant service interruption that Seacom faced two months prior. A disruption exceeding two days in duration was experienced in the Red Sea, impairing Seacom’s subsea cable system which serves as a digital bridge between Africa and Europe. The repercussions of this incident were felt across various client bases throughout East and Southern Africa.
Seacom has embraced this new service offering as a pivotal progression for their regional connectivity portfolio. The journey leading up to the launch involved an extensive two-year period of consultations with partners within the industry. Seacom also prides itself on being among the pioneers in importing the first set of LEO satellite equipment to South Africa, showing commitment by quickly initiating setups and trial runs as soon as the equipment was on hand.
The operational mechanics behind data delivery through this satellite service involve the transmission of data to teleports, which are located at strategic points around the world. Following reception, the data is then disseminated from these teleports to various network hubs and final destinations.
One of the chief advantages that satellite connectivity has over other forms such as fixed-line or cellular broadband is its independence from terrestrial infrastructure like base stations or nodes. This characteristic ensures that connectivity can be maintained even during local infrastructural challenges, including power disruptions.
Alpheus Mangale, the Group CEO of Seacom, envisions the LEO satellite service as a fundamental component of their offering, intended to benefit organizations of all sizes, ranging from large corporations to medium and small enterprises.
The sectors that stand to gain from the LEO services, according to Seacom, span a diverse array including finance, retail, mining, and education—all of which often require robust, low-latency connectivity to handle intense workloads.
In the wider scope of the LEO satellite market, Elon Musk’s Starlink has established a formidable presence, having catered to customers in over eight African nations. Despite its active roaming service in South Africa, Starlink has encountered regulatory hurdles as it’s not formally sanctioned for operation there.
Furthermore, Starlink has recently taken the stance to terminate its services in areas without proper licensing, such as Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, with plans to cease its roaming offerings by April 2024. This development could potentially accelerate the uptake of Seacom’s LEO satellite service in the South African market, particularly in light of Starlink’s decision to discontinue services in unlicensed regions.
