Pupils at a public elementary school in Kwara State. Photo: Wikipedia

[Via Satellite 10-08-2015] SES has signed a multi-year contract with Softwire Digital Solutions, to implement countrywide e-learning solutions in Nigeria. This country’s government selected Softwire Digital Solutions, a provider of IT and capacity building services in Nigeria, as one of several to implement a number of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects, with the aim to bridge the digital and information gap that exists in the rural areas of Nigeria and provide more e-learning facilities to the underserved areas. Softwire will be using capacity on SES’ NSS-10 satellite for the deployment of this ICT project, under the financing of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

“Many governments and public institutions on the continent have already begun to develop broadband policies to address this digital inequality, but again are hindered by costs, infrastructure and inaccessible, non-urban populations. Satellites have vast coverage and a reach that’s undaunted by mountain, desert, jungle or savannah. Digital communications and broadband Internet are increasingly important to Nigeria and the continent’s social and economic development. Our satellite broadband technology is able to deliver a wide range of services across Nigeria’s non-urban population, to help drive growth and knowledge transfer,” said Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, senior vice president at SES Commercial in Africa.