Save the Children program in Malawi. Photo: Save the Children.

[Via Satellite 11-06-2015] SpeedCast France (formerly Geolink Satellite Services), has successfully deployed a 35-site network for Save the Children International (SCI). The new satellite service provides connectivity to a network of 35 C-band VSAT systems across 35 sites in Africa.

The new service was set up for the customer as a Virtual Network Operator (VNO).  The VNO allows SCI to allocate pooled bandwidth efficiently and allows the flexibility to make changes quickly.

SpeedCast trained members of SCI staff as VSAT installers at SpeedCast’s teleport in Germany.

“During the recent Ebola Emergency, I spent two months connected to the SpeedCast service, and the connection quality was better than some places in Europe,” said Mark Hawkins, Global Field Technology Manager at SCI.  “I was able to participate in conference calls with other parts of the world and some people were surprised that I was communicating over a VSAT link.”