Page 69 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

South Africa Signs Satellite Navigation Agreement with China

South Africa and China are developing National Space Agency (SANSA) and Chi- for collaboration within the field of satel-
closer ties in the space industry, and this na Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) have lite navigation, strengthening exchanges
now extends to satellite navigation. The signed an MoU for cooperation in satellite and cooperation in the domains of satellite
nations announced that the South African navigation. The MoU includes the intention navigation technologies, talent cultivation,
applications and industrialization as well
as research and applications of BeiDou
Navigation Satellite System (BDS)/GNSS
in geophysics, space science, geodetic
survey and other sectors based on GNSS
data amongst other interest areas. This
MoU is supported by bilateral coopera-
tion between South Africa and China and
has been facilitated through South Afri-
ca’s Department of Science and Innova-
tion. “This is an exciting endeavor for the
country as greater investment and sup-
port to the space engineering industry will
mean growth in scarce engineering skills,
strengthening of the knowledge economy
and support to government’s goal of ad-
dressing poverty through unemployment,”
said Mmbonene Moefe, DDG at the Depart-
ment of Science and Innovation.

InterSAT Partners with Kymeta and Azercosmos for Mobility Service in Africa

InterSAT has signed a partnership committed to providing customers with satellite-based networks growing, this
agreement with Kymeta and Azercosmos the most advanced, reliable, easy-to- partnership with Kymeta and Azercosmos
to deliver mobile satellite communication manage and flexible solutions to meet is a significant step in enhancing our
services using Kymeta’s U8 terminals their connectivity requirements. We are solution offerings. Being technology-
and InterSAT’s SkyMOVE services across pleased to have InterSAT join our partner agnostic supports our notion that there is
Africa, and carried by the Azerspace-2 network as we grow in this rapidly no one size fits all solution for our diverse
satellite. The partnership agreement expanding market.” Mark Guthrie, Chief customer base in Africa, and this unique
enables InterSAT to deliver a complete Commercial Officer at Azercosmos, added: partnership is another step in enhancing
connectivity solution for on-the-go “We are pleased to expand the scope of our our portfolio.” Subrata Roy, CTO of InterSAT,
communications with the Kymeta U8 longstanding relationship with InterSAT, commented: “We are thrilled to collaborate
terminal. The u8 terminal was designed to now enter into this partnership for the with forward-thinking companies like
with Kymeta’s software-defined, electronic delivery of comm’s on the move services Kymeta and Azercosmos to provide
beam steering technology and is low over the Azerspace-2 satellite throughout affordable service to our customers, with
profile and mounts easily on vehicles and Africa.” Hanif Kassam, CEO of InterSAT, the quality and reassurance they expect
vessels for seamless communications on stated: “With end-markets for high-speed from our innovative companies.”
the move. Kymeta’s antenna technology is
uniquely positioned to meet the demand
for mobile broadband, providing internet
access via satellite or hybrid satellite-
cellular networks on a user-defined
basis to enable connectivity while on the
move or on the pause. Commenting on
the partnership, Bill Marks, EVP, Chief
Development Officer, Kymeta, said: “This
new satellite mobility partnership offers
limitless opportunities for communication
and collaboration in Africa. We are

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