In Africa, the telecom industry enjoyed strong growth during the 80’s which spurred demand for satellite communications. Despite the more recent economic setbacks across the globe, the need for satellite capacity has remained. The present Ku band and C band will inevitably be saturated, and the number of orbital slots will decrease with every passing launch. This is why African governments and operators are looking at the potential of Ka band satellite capacity to deliver additional bandwidths and flexible payloads to supply the growing demand.
The new generation of Ka band satellites are also ideal to the growing IT-based industries and digital economies of the continent. Through the said satellite technology, applications like backhauling, internet on satellite, and even government communications will be made possible. Since deregulation, many operators are now facing tough competition, not to mention the challenge of making their services more affordable. Bandwidth cost had risen over the years, adding to the money already spent in changing or upgrading satellite equipment.
Ka band, according to NewSat Regional Head Steve Rich, will “trigger a step-change in the African satellite communications industry.” The Ka band technology will open up more cost-effective network deployments since it support smaller VSAT systems while delivering increased bandwidth capacities. Because of the low cost of network deployments, mobile operators that will take advantage of Ka band can now take a more “holistic view” of the market products and requirements. Certainly, Ka band will be playing a crucial role in the future of satellite communications in Africa.
Ka Band Satellite Communications 