Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Senegal’s First Satellite Launch Planned for This Year

According to a number of press reports,
Senegal is now preparing for the launch of
its first satellite, initially scheduled for 2021
and postponed to 2023 due to the Covid-19
pandemic. The Ecofin news agency says
that late last week the country’s Ministry of
Higher Education, Research, and Innovation
(MESRI) announced that the satellite
would be delivered on 10 November. The
launch date will then be announced by
the government. The construction of this
satellite, which will be called GAINDESAT, Senegal's national space program called was finalizing the construction of a space
results from a partnership agreement SENSAT, which aims to aid the country’s control center in partnership with France's
signed with the Centre Spatial Universitaire socio-economic development through Centre national d'études spatiales and
de Montpellier (CSUM). CSUM is a leading the design and operation of space tools. aerospace company ArianeGroup. The
European center dedicated to bringing SENSAT and CSUM will partner with the center will be used to prepare the satellite
together resources and skills in the digital platform RIDE!space to integrate the for launch. With the help of GAINDESAT
engineering, production, operation, testing satellite into Vigoride, an orbital transfer Senegal aims to enhance its ability to
and application of nanosatellites. It offered vehicle (OTV) supplied by Momentus, a address critical challenges such as disaster
its assistance to the Senegalese engineers company that offers space infrastructure management and agricultural productivity
and technicians who built GAINDESAT. This and transportation services. Last May the by harnessing the potential of satellite
initiative is part of the implementation of Senegalese government announced that it technology and artificial intelligence.

Starlink’s Satellite Broadband Service Coming to 4G Smartphones in 2025

The Elon Musk-founded firm operates a Peter Kibutu, advanced technology lead at operator’s 5G NTN networks.” Shipping
constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low- satellite consultancy TTP, said: “Starlink firm Maersk has also announced that
Earth orbit that can provide a broadband continues to set ambitious targets for more than 330 of its container vessels will
data service to devices across the globe, its satellite network; however, its plans have Starlink’s traditional service installed,
including in areas that aren’t served to deliver a direct-to-cell service require enabling high-speed internet with speeds
by traditional radio towers. The newly- scrutiny. Offering connectivity supported over 200Mbps. The agreement follows
announced ‘Direct to Cell’ satellite phone by unmodified 4G handsets might only a pilot scheme where crew members on
service will launch next year ahead of plans result in low-bandwidth data and voice more than 30 Maersk vessels had the
to make it compatible with current 4G services, falling short of contemporary data opportunity to test the technology. Besides
handsets by 2025. Direct to Cell satellites demands and user experience. “Starlink benefits such as allowing crew members
will initially be launched on Falcon 9 has made it clear that it will continue to to keep in touch with family through video
rockets flown by SpaceX, which is also use its own proprietary technology, which, calls and other forms of communication,
owned by Elon Musk, and then Starship, while providing it with speed to market, the firm said it would facilitate cost-saving
its upcoming super heavy lift launch could present roadblocks in years to come measures by moving certain applications
vehicle. Once in orbit, the satellites will as it struggles to support high-performance into the cloud and improving support
connect over laser backhaul to the Starlink connectivity services and use cases that for remote inspections of the vessels.
constellation to provide global connectivity. will be readily available via other satellite Leonardo Sonzio, Maersk’s head of fleet
management, said: “We are excited to
announce our journey with Starlink to
provide state-of-the-art connectivity to
our sea-going colleagues. The highspeed
connectivity will enable our seagoing
colleagues to stay connected with their
loved ones while at sea. It will also propel
the expansion of seamless cloud solutions,
enabling our vision to digitize our vessel
operations.”

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