Global satellite operator O3b Networks announced today that it has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Mavoni Technologies Africa, a local IT provider focused on enterprise IT solutions and outsourcing services to the corporate and public service sectors.

 

According to the company, South Africa has the most developed telecommunications infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa with multiple submarine cable networks and an extensive national fiber network.

 

However, while users in cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town can enjoy high-speed broadband, users in the more remote areas are still largely disconnected from the global internet backbone.

 

This newly announced agreement will see millions of South Africans, particularly those in the country’s rural and under-served areas including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, provided access to high speed internet connectivity. 

 

“These are traditionally areas that fiber networks are not able to reach,” said Tinyiko Valoyi, CEO of Mavoni Technologies. “In partnership with the provincial government of Limpopo, we intend to connect more than 500 schools in rural areas.”

 

“We are also working with the Department of Education in Northern Cape Province to provide connectivity to over 1,500 schools. This will impact the lives of more than 185,000 students.”

 

Municipalities will also now have a proper solution for providing sophisticated and reliable internet access at a fraction of their budget allocation, so that institutions in their area, the likes of schools, may benefit from internet connectivity.

 

“In choosing to work with O3b Networks, Mavoni Technologies is now better positioned to bring end to end, cost effective IP broadband connectivity services to government municipalities and schools located in poorly served areas of South Africa,” stated John Finney, chief commercial officer of O3b Networks.

 

“Mavoni Technologies intends to cooperate with various government agencies to help them achieve universal service objectives and have selected O3b Networks as their strategic connectivity partner. We are pleased to work with such an organization and look forward to supporting them to deliver a quality and sustainable product to their end customers.”