IS28’s Ku-Band footprint map. Photo: Intelsat

Intelsat has made a strategic investment in Africa Mobile Networks (AMN),  to accelerate the deployment of mobile connectivity to unserved communities across multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

AMN aims to provide Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with a Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) solution in which AMN will fund, build, and operate the ultra-rural network for the operators. AMN’s solution is powered by a solar-based system which can be rapidly deployed and installed in less than 6 hours. As part of the long-term agreement, AMN will leverage Intelsat’s next-generation Intelsat EpicNG High Throughput Satellites (HTS), as well as the 23 Intelsat satellites covering the continent to provide balance between coverage and high-throughput for the enabled sites.

Once installed, the sites will connect over the Intelsat fleet to the core of the mobile network operator and deliver 2G mobile services, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) voice, Short Message Service (SMS), and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)/Enhanced GPRS (EDGE) data, with the ability to upgrade the base stations to 3G and 4G as data demands allow.