Page 30 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

AT&T and OneWeb Plan Satellite Access for Business in Remote Areas

Across the US

AT&T has signed a strategic agreement
with OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO)
satellite communications company,
to harness the capabilities of satellite
technology to improve access for AT&T
business customers into remote and
challenging geographic locations. The
new connectivity will complement existing to-reach cell towers. Where will it work? ensure that our business customers have
AT&T access technologies. Why is this The AT&T service will be supported by the high-speed, low-latency connectivity
important? AT&T’s leading business fiber OneWeb’s network of satellites. OneWeb they need to thrive as the nation recovers
network enables high-speed connections has launched 288 satellites and expects from COVID-19.” “OneWeb’s enterprise-
to over 2.5 million U.S. business customer to attain global coverage with a total fleet grade network has a unique capability
locations. Nationwide, more than 9 million of 648 satellites by the end of 2022. AT&T to serve hard-to-reach businesses and
business customer locations are within business and government customers in communities. Our work with AT&T will
1,000 feet of AT&T fiber. I However, there are Alaska and northern U.S. states will be focus on how satellite technology can
still remote areas that existing networks covered later this year. What are people support improved capacity and coverage in
can’t reach with the high-speed, low- saying? “Working with OneWeb, we’ll be remote, rural and challenging geographic
latency broadband essential to business able to enhance high-speed connectivity in locations,” said Neil Masterson, OneWeb
operations. Who can use this? AT&T will use places that we don’t serve today and meet Chief Executive Officer. “Today’s
this technology to enhance connectivity our customers wherever they are,” said agreement with AT&T demonstrates
when connecting to its enterprise, Scott Mair, President, Network Engineering OneWeb’s execution momentum and the
small and medium-sized business and and Operations, AT&T. “We’re expanding confidence customers such as AT&T have
government customers as well as hard- our network with one more option to help in its services and offering.”

Batelco Expands Mobile Coverage to Major

Housing Developments

Batelco has announced the expansion of telecommunication services is essential mobile connectivity and home broadband
its mobile network, to cover major housing to keep residents connected and enable services to all our customers, wherever
developments currently being built by the them to enjoy a modern lifestyle. The new they may live. As new urban areas are
Ministry of Housing and the private sector residential areas where Batelco is rolling developed, we continue to expand our
across Bahrain. The expanded services out services includes Khalifa City, Salman coverage and introduce new packages
will also meet the needs of residents for City, Ramli Housing, Diyar Al Muharraq, and solutions that cater to customers’
fast, reliable mobile connectivity solutions, East Hidd, Saddad, Wadi AlSail, Tubli, and needs, such as Fixed Wireless Access, to
including 5G and Mobile broadband Al-Lawzi. Commenting on the expansion ensure digital inclusivity for all citizens and
services. The Kingdom is witnessing of the mobile coverage, Batelco Network residents.” He added: “A key component
extensive growth of new residential General Manager Rashid Mohamed, said, of our strategy is to invest in the ongoing
communities and the availability of “Our goal is to provide fast and reliable development of our mobile network. To
be in line with the government’s plans, we
collaborate with the authorities to ensure
that services are delivered to new areas
to meet the specific demands of each
location. As the first telecom provider to
deliver nationwide 5G coverage we remain
focussed on delivering the best network
in Bahrain and will continue to work
around the clock to enhance services that
support the efforts of developers and meet
customer requirements.”

30 SEPTEMBER 2021