A satellite broadband deal announced Wednesday between satellite operator SES S.A. and Facebook will see high-speed broadband connectivity services provided to Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement was borne out of Facebook's, Express Wi-Fi programme aiming to connect the world and will draw on the three SES satellites ASTRA 2G, ASTRA 3B AND ASTRA 4A.
The world's largest social media network will also receive customised SES Enterprise+ broadband services with integrated features such as security, protocol enhancement and hosting. The Gilat Satellite networks' X-Architecture platform will enable local African partners to provide internet services to underconnected communities through Facebook's Express Wi-Fi access product.
"We are excited about the opportunity to partner with SES and Facebook on this worthy initiative to bridge the digital divide," commented Ron Levin, Director Strategic Accounts at Gilat. "The turn-key solution provided to facebook is based on expanding SES base with Gilat's most advanced X-Architecture for SkyEdge II-c platform to deliver a scalable and optimised satellite-enabled broadband solution in Africa."
"SES has the solutions and satellites that can satisfy Facebook's demand to enable and provide broadband connectivity for Express Wi-Fi," added Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer at SES. "Our new data network, SES Plus, highlights the strengths of SES as a network operator. We pride ourselves on working with our customers to design and deliver customised and differentiated products that enable them to excel in their markets. An agreement such as this with Facebook, where we designed a whole new customisable, flexible and scalable solution, is another step SES has taken to satisfy the fast expanding broadband connectivity market in Africa."
Photo by International Launch Services
