Page 46 - EngineerIT October 2022

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Satellite or fibre: the value of the

right connection

“ there is a vast unconnected impressive coverage in almost any location which makes it very accessible for people
area in South Africa and who have limited fibre or mobile network connectivity options. Satellite may have
Tsatellite can play a significant some limitations but proves to be an effective communication medium where Fibre
role in changing this profile,” says and LTE are not yet available.
Kathleen Janse van Rensburg, satellite “The downfall of entry level satellites is that they do not support VPN (virtual
product manager at Vox. “Good private network) services. To provide VPN support on satellite will cost a lot more
satellite coverage can transform than what the average consumer can afford; however, working from home is still
access to connectivity across multiple possible,” says Janse van Rensburg. “Satellite offers users a high level of resilience that
environments, and it can extend ensures consistent connectivity, even in the event of a power failure.”
to areas just outside the city or to Satellite is reliable and cost-effective, plus it’s the ultimate digital nomad. It
smaller towns or suburbs that have can be implemented in the rural areas and still provide reliable connectivity. It can
yet to receive reliable fibre.” also be connected to solar panels so that connectivity remains in play during load-
The United Nations believes that shedding which is, in the current climate, an added bonus, particularly for schools and
connectivity should be a human farms that rely on it. Then, moving back into urban or peri-urban areas that opt into
right. It’s the thread that connects satellite, there are the benefits of high-speed connectivity at a really good price point.
people to education, opportunities, After all, for most users, cost comes hand-in-hand with connectivity as nobody wants
information and insights. And it is the to pay exorbitant fees for a service that should be readily available.
golden key that unlocks the door to “Satellite in the suburbs can be a smart alternative as it’s an always-on
both personal and business growth. connection. It offers users a fool-proof technology that delivers what they need,
Yet, there are many parts of South even during load-shedding,” says Janse van Rensburg. “While you need a slightly
Africa that are still not connected more complex setup than other solutions, it can be kept up and running using a basic
to the internet. The country ranks generator and UPS backup or inverter when the power goes off.”
68th on the 2021 Digital Quality “Satellite is a perfect and reliable connectivity solution,” concludes Janse van
of Life Index and, even though it’s Rensburg. “It brings digital to remote and rural areas, allows people and places to
higher than many other countries connect, and removes the limitations imposed by distance and lack of infrastructure.
listed in this report, it still has to In a few short steps, it provides internet connectivity, no matter how remote you are.”
overcome legacy infrastructure and
vast rural areas to bring people and
connections together. While there
are more than 41 million active
internet users in the country, there’s
a need to find smart solutions that
can connect more people to the
internet, social media and cool digital
tools. There are limitations around
fibre implementations, with poor
access in many areas that still need
connectivity, particularly farmlands
and agricultural spreads.
There are several different
forms of connectivity available to
the market. LTE is a fixed wireless
connection that uses fibre or an
internet source that leverages cell
towers and mobile networks and
thrives in areas with solid mobile
phone reception. Satellite offers

EngineerIT | October 2022 | 44