Page 86 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

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solutions to new problems through technology and innovation. Goonhilly and GMVNSL on this impressive achievement. In recent
Repurposing a transponder on a long-serving satellite to deliver a years, the UK Space Agency has invested in the development of
new capability to the UK, potentially a vital and enduring one, certainly UK expertise in Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), and the
lives up to that core Inmarsat ethos. Working with our fellow British government’s commitment to strengthening PNT resilience is set
companies at Goonhilly and GMVNSL to deliver such a capability out in both the National Space Strategy and Integrated Review,
for the country is very rewarding and we look forward to reporting given its importance to our critical national infrastructure and
on the results.” These tests will assess whether UKSBAS can economy. “This project is a great example of the innovation found
develop into a full operational capability to support safety-critical throughout the UK space sector and demonstrates how we can
applications such as airport approach and landing operations or work effectively with the European Space Agency to strengthen our
navigating ships through narrow channels, especially at night and national space capabilities.”
in poor weather conditions. Goonhilly provides the signal uplink for
the system from Cornwall and software from GMVNSL, based in
Nottingham, generates the necessary navigational data. Transport
Minister Robert Courts said “The UK’s thriving space sector is
developing at pace, and British-led innovations like this have the
potential to deliver crucial navigation services for our aviation
and maritime sectors. “That’s why this Government is investing
millions in new technologies to make our transport network even
safer while boosting high-skilled job opportunities across the
nation.” UKSBAS is helping to regenerate UK strategic capabilities
in this domain. The establishment of this new national platform
creates the opportunity to evaluate high-integrity, resilient and
precise navigation across the country, in its airspace and within
surrounding waters. The project may be crucial for UK users who
need accurate, high-integrity navigation capabilities to enable their
operations, initially covering aviation and maritime operations but
with potential extension into rail and road applications. Paul Bate,
CEO of the UK Space Agency, said “Congratulations to Inmarsat,

Rwanda Inks MoU to Improve Satellite Communication Services

explore ways to improve satellite communication services and
accelerate digital inclusion in Rwanda, and Africa as a whole. The
agreement covers key areas such as supporting the deployment of
satellite communication services in Rwanda and preserving access
to satellite spectrum. It will also contribute to preserving access
to orbital slots reserved for developing countries, cooperation
with African space agencies and the promotion of satellite
communication services in Rwanda and Africa. According to GSOA
secretary-general Aarti Holla-Maini (photo), the cooperation will
facilitate the development of satellite communication services in
Rwanda and provide support to the RSA to ensure that satellite
spectrum are used for sustainable development. The agreement
is announced two years after the Rwandan Space Agency was
created, making Rwanda one of the few African countries that have
space agencies. Apart from Rwanda, African countries with space
agencies are notably Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa,
Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. In its report "The
Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2021," the GSM Association
According to the GSM Association, in Sub-Saharan Africa, 206 (GSMA) revealed that mobile Internet penetration was just 28
million people are not covered by mobile networks. To allow its percent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 while the mobile penetration
residents - who are not covered by mobile networks - access rate was 46 percent. So, in the region, the outstanding majority
to digital services, Rwanda wants to rely on satellite internet. of the population does not have access to internet. But, telecom
The Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) signed, Monday (June 6), a operators and governments are looking for solutions to allow
memorandum of understanding with the Global Satellite Operators access to telecom services for people, especially those living in
Association (GSOA). Under this partnership, the two parties will rural areas with little or no terrestrial telecom service coverage.
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