On Thursday, NEC XON and Skywire announced a groundbreaking partnership to enhance satellite connectivity in rural South Africa. 

This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide, providing high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved communities.

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Innovative solutions for rural connectivity

NEC XON, a prominent African ICT integrator, and Skywire, South Africa’s largest independent wireless network provider, have deployed OneWeb satellites to tackle connectivity challenges in remote areas.

Faried Souma, General Manager of Wireless at NEC XON, emphasised the partnership’s significance,  “We meet the diverse connectivity needs of remotely accessed business-critical applications”.

One notable application of this technology is a mobile solution for voter enrollment in rural regions. The teams from both companies worked diligently to implement this system within two weeks, ensuring it was ready for presentation by the Western Cape Premier. 

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Johan Botha, Skywire’s Chief Commercial Officer, remarked on OneWeb’s seamless network, “It directly connects to satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), ensuring uninterrupted service even in the most remote locations.”

The deployment addresses areas lacking terrestrial towers, such as the Northern Cape and Karoo, where geographical challenges hinder traditional connectivity. The LEO satellites offer superior speeds and reliability, enabling faster installations and reduced operational costs.

With this innovative solution, NEC XON and Skywire are poised to transform access to essential services like healthcare and education in rural communities.