Satellite role in supporting Cellular Backhaul across Africa

Africa today has 500 million unique mobile subscribers which is around 43% penetration and is projected to reach 50% penetration (700 Mill subscriber base) by year 2030. Most of the mobile networks today are still using the 3G technology although many are already moving to 4G. Due to lack and/or reliability of terrestrial infrastructure in many countries, Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s) are still resorting to Satellites for backhauling. Cellular backhauling (CBH) is a key service, representing a major revenue generator for MNOs across Africa; demand for CBH is expected to grow with the introduction of 4G and 5G networks.

C-band, in spite of local RF & 5G interference limitation, is still in demand for Cellular backhauling in Central and West Africa. ABS-3A, located at 3 West has been quite popular thanks to its wide beam and the excellent look-angle across the region. Demand for C-band will exceed supply in West Africa. ABS has been offering the C-band capacity over ABS-2 satellite at 75 East, for the Central, Eastern and Southern African markets.
Beside C-band, demand for Ku-band will be strong, notably for rural backhauling across Africa. There are thousands of rural and “ultra-rural” villages to be connected, where there is no terrestrial or fibre infrastructure. MNO’s have a challenge to set up microwave infrastructure as the cost of setting up these & maintaining MW networks for small population doesn’t justify the business case. Hence Ku-band satellite-based backhauling becomes a viable solution. These antenna systems are low cost, easy to deploy, have low maintenance and offer high reliability and uptimes as compared to microwave.

ABS, along with its partners, have been offering tailor made solution to MNOs with domestic hub to ensure the data and voice traffic land into central server within the country. This at once delivers low latency services and meets local regulatory requirements. ABS can provide such Ku-band backhauling service over ABS-3A and ABS-2 Ku-band beams.