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Africa the Centre of New Space Race Era

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In 2017 and beyond, Africa will find itself at the heart of a new space race centred on satellite connectivity.

According to Michèle Scanlon, New Business Development at Gondwana International Networks (GIN), “The race is on for full coverage of Africa with High Throughput Satellite (HTS) service. Long thought destined to be obsolete, as mobile and fibre networks have grown in footprint, satellite services are making something of a commercial comeback.”

Scanlon adds that this new era of satellite services has been driven by HTS Ka-Band spot beam services with the likes of Avanti and YahSat providing cost-effective solutions for markets previously unable to afford satellite connectivity.

This is in addition to global satellite leader, Intelsat setting its sights on full continental coverage with its EPIC satellite series of HTS Ku-Band spot beams.

“Like most battles of competing technologies, first to market also needs to be accompanied by a viable commercial proposition,” says Scanlon.

“Think Betamax vs VHS, or CDMA vs GSM. First to market brings market attention; a commercial proposition brings long-term sustainability and the combination of the two will drive market success.”

“For the internet satellite service provider and end-user, the launch of ubiquitous spot beam coverage, regardless of technology band, should mean more cost effective satellite services delivering faster speeds with more user-friendly dimensioned equipment,” explains Scanlon.

Within this new space race, African service providers are fast emerging. Through a series of acquisitions, most notably of Telkom South Africa’s iWayAfrica and AfricaOnline subsidiaries, Gondwana International Networks has re-established these well-known brands of almost 20 years’ history, among Africa’s first ISPs, to hold one of the largest VSAT customer bases spanning all technology bands.

Scanlon notes that new market dynamics are emerging among traditional as well as new satellite players.

“The traditional satellite project typically took 20 years from design conception to end of its lifecycle in space, whereas terrestrial projects and technology evolve and are adapted significantly quicker and as the final race is on for market penetration of every remote corner of Africa market conditions are in flux.”

Adding to the changing dynamics is the arrival of OTT players into the satellite race.

“Global OTT players like Facebook and Google also see satellite as key for extending broadband services and for their own continued service dominance in a connected world. This is evidenced by Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of SpaceX planning to launch more than 4,000 satellites to provide blanket internet access to earth. Whilst pursuing its own low-orbiting service, Google has backed Musk’s plans with a one billion dollar investment,” she says.

In the new technological race for market share, the technology itself may not be the key differentiator, but rather access to local markets via licensed operators on the ground, speed to market and in rural Africa, and ultimately the price, according to Scanlon.

“With strong competition and continually increasing available satellite capacity, satellite broadband pricing is expected to decline faster over 2017/2018 than in previous periods. The basic economic rules of supply and demand will dictate new price points bringing affordable broadband. However, until the market sees similar reductions in pricing or innovative financing approaches for the required end-user satellite modem the utopian goals of mass-scale broadband penetration in Africa may be limited.” 

In 2017 and the years to come Scanlon predicts the real frontier for new market share is in pursuing HTS spot-beam satellite services for broadband connectivity to the furthest reaches of the African continent.


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Treepz Doubles Down on Corporate Mobility in Africa with Launch of a New Website

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Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has expanded its corporate mobility and employee transportation services across the continent with a fresh new look for its website.

 

The company’s new website boasts a sleek, user-friendly interface with added features to better showcase Treepz’s range of services for companies looking to efficiently and sustainably move employees and clients in major African cities. From on-demand employee shuttles, and school bus solutions to intra-city group trips for events and conferences, Treepz is positioning itself as an all-in-one corporate transportation provider.

Managing transportation logistics across multiple sites has always been an operational nightmare for companies,” said Onyeka Akumah, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Treepz. “Our goal is to streamline that experience through Treepz’s powerful technology platform.”

With nearly 6,000 employees of companies daily relying on Treepz’s innovative tech and reliable fleet for employee transportation or staff bus commutes, we understand the complexities of managing corporate transportation firsthand. “Our revamped website simplifies the process, offering businesses a seamless solution to optimize their transportation needs and empower their workforce in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana,” Onyeka added

Key Features of the New Treepz Website

  • Trackable Dashboard for a bird’s eye view of all guests’ trips in real-time when using Treepz.
  • 24/7 customer support to assist with all mobility inquiries.
  • Wide selection of vehicle options, each with professional drivers tailored to specific needs.
  • Friendly interface for easy navigation and booking.
  • Client testimonials and case studies showcasing Treepz’s success stories.

Treepz’s mission extends beyond just transportation – they aim to revolutionize how over 1 million daily commuters experience mobility across Africa. Since its launch in 2019, the company has provided employee transit for top firms like Tekexperts, Wakanow, Somasource, and Brighter Monday across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. This has resulted in the transportation of about 5 million passengers since then.

With this digital reinvention, Treepz doubles down on transforming corporate mobility through tech-driven solutions. The company welcomes businesses seeking smarter ways to move their people to explore the new website www.treepz.com.


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Nigerian Business Leaders Partner Google for Strategic Advantage, Seeks Competitive Edge in Privacy-First Era

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Leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa at a roundtable to discuss the shift towards privacy-first marketing as third-party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from FairMoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighting a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

Businesses recognize that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasingly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy-focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards building sustainable customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintaining transparency and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraints into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

“Customer trust is the new currency,” noted Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google. “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunity. This is about reimagining how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand-in-hand.”

The discussions emphasised this point, highlighting the competitive advantage of adopting privacy-first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversions. These tools demonstrate a commitment to both high performance and privacy standards. Success stories illustrated how other businesses have successfully navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

“We stand at a crucial juncture,” remarked Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitch. “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprises that strike a balance between innovative, data-driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy-first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieve precisely this”

The roundtable underscores a pivotal shift towards privacy-first strategies in Nigeria’s digital marketing sphere, emphasising the critical role of collaboration and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerstone of business growth and competitive advantage.

“We are committed to empowering Nigerian brands in building a privacy-forward future. By harnessing AI and privacy-centric technologies, we aim to empower our partners to thrive amidst these changes,” stated Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google.


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MTN Nigeria, PAU Open Applications for 3rd Edition of MTN Media Innovation Programme

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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the School of Media & Communications, Pan-Atlantic University have announced call for applications from qualified media practitioners to participate in the 3rd edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP-3), which will commence on May 20, 2024, at the Main Campus of the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. 

MTN Nigeria in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, launched the Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP) in 2022 to enable media practitioners gain deeper insight into the ever-evolving media landscape.

The six-month, fully-funded certificate fellowship, which includes a study visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and an innovation hub to incubate ideas, is open to media practitioners across all strata of the media industry including the print, electronic and online platforms. The programme is also open to social media content creators.

Speaking on the impact of the programme, Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria said: “The media play a crucial role in shaping the society. It is important that they are enabled with tools and opportunities to do their jobs better as this ultimately benefits the society.

“Our commitment is to continue to empower media practitioners, regardless of platforms, to be able to innovate and create technological-driven solutions to our world. This is what the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to accomplish.”

On his part, the Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, stated that the programme brings into play the wide experience that the School has in the training of media practitioners.

In our various programmes targeted at journalists, we at the School of Media and Communication have always laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of creativity, ethics and professionalism.

“The Media Innovation Programme is one more opportunity to drive home these values but with a new emphasis on innovation.

“Journalism remains as important as ever to the society, and it is driven by the same values, but journalists require a retooling to meet the technological changes and challenges of today.

“This is the role that the Media Innovation Programme aims to play, and we are quite happy to be able to partner with MTN to achieve this goal.”

At the end of the training, the 20 successful applicants will qualify as Fellows for the 2024 cohort. The Fellows would be coached on Nigeria’s technology sector, the relationship between media and technology, and equipped with the skills to adapt to the changing realities that guarantee career and financial success in their professional practice.

Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from PAU’s erudite faculty.

Interested journalists, bloggers and content creators can apply for the Fellowship at https://smc.edu.ng/mtnmip

Applications open on Friday March 23 and close Wednesday April 10, 2024.


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