Page 86 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

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Vox Launches Uncapped Satellite Internet

Satellite connectivity in the South more geographical areas, including the social impact in rural areas of the country,
African market is set for a shakeup, with Northern Cape locally, giving us for the as small businesses or farmers can now
infrastructure provider Vox announcing first time coverage on Ka-band across the affordably provide their workers with free
the introduction of several capped and entire country, as well as into much of sub- calls so that they can stay in touch with
uncapped data and voice plans, made Saharan Africa,” says Visser. According family and friends. As a result of increased
available through its partnership with to Visser, the partnership with Avanti will reliability and stability, a growing number
Avanti Communications. “Ka-band satellite allow Vox to offer an uncapped data plan, of businesses are also turning to Ka-band
has been growing around the world; it’s as well as several capped data plans. satellite services as a failover connectivity,
quick to install for end-users, and provides Subscribers to the capped data plans can or even to connect their software-defined
them with much higher throughputs as add on an uncapped voice channel. While wide area networks (SD-WAN). “Being
compared to other satellite technologies,” the uncapped data plan runs off the HYLAS able to offer our customers options such
says Jacques Visser, head of wireless at 2 satellite, the capped data/uncapped as high throughput uncapped data and
Vox. “Our partnership with Avanti helps voice plans run off the newer HYLAS 4 uncapped voice plans, at this price point, is
us expand our existing Ka-band satellite satellite with a local landing station in a game-changer for telecommunications
services portfolio, bring new data and voice South Africa that reduces latency. Visser in South Africa,” says Visser. “Gone are
offerings to the South African market, and adds that increased promotional offers for the days when satellite internet was
give our customers more choice.” Based data and voice plans, as well as consumer seen as a slow, expensive service.” Data
in the UK, Avanti makes use of its fleet of premise equipment (CPE) subsidies, are plans available through Avanti include an
four Ka-band HYLAS satellites and ground now making satellite services far more uncapped data plan for R1 999 per month,
infrastructure in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, competitive against other forms of fixed, as well as capped data options, with 5GB
Istanbul, Johannesburg, Lagos and fixed-wireless, or wireless connectivity. for R399 pm, 10GB for R699 pm, and 20GB
London among others, to provide satellite This makes satellite a solution for users for R1099 pm. Capped data plan customers
connectivity to individuals and businesses who are not in major urban areas that can further subscribe to an uncapped
in over 118 countries in Europe, the Middle benefit from high-speed connectivity voice channel, which offers them unlimited
East and Africa. “This partnership expands such as fiber or LTE-A. Products such calls to South African numbers, at R172
the coverage of our satellite services to as uncapped voice could have a positive per month including VAT.

Ka-Band Connectivity for China’s Aircraft

Ka-band satellite communications will
drive an inflight connectivity agreement
coming to the Chinese market. AirNet
Technology Inc, an in-flight solution
provider focusing on connectivity,
entertainment and digital multimedia
in China, has announced that one of its
subsidiaries, Air Esurfing Information
Technology Co Ltd, has signed a strategic
cooperation agreement with Lufthansa
Technik, a provider of technical aircraft
services, to provide inflight connectivity
retrofit packages to aircraft in the Chinese
market. During the term of this agreement,
Lufthansa Technik will design and certify
Ka-band-based connectivity retrofit airlines. Lufthansa Technik will also supply of digital fleet support, maintenance, repair,
packages for both the Airbus A320ceo and material and provide material handling overhaul, modification, completion and
A320neo aircraft families as well as the services for the installation of packages conversion as well as the manufacture of
Boeing 737NG and 737MAX. Lufthansa that can be tailored to the specific innovative cabin products. Collaborating
Technik will also work with ARE to provide requirements of airline customers of ARE. with its partners, AirNet offers Chinese
Civil Aviation Administration of China Lufthansa Technik’s portfolio covers the airlines internet connections through
(CAAC)-validated European Union Aviation entire range of services for commercial a network of satellites and land-based
Safety Agency (EASA) Supplemental Type and VIP/special mission aircraft, engines, beacons.
Certificates (VSTC) to support Chinese components and landing gear in the areas

86 OCTOBER 2019