10 April 2018

Vodacom Business Nigeria MD Lanre Kolade (right) shakes on the deal with Hans Geldenhuys, Intelsat’s managing sales director, Africa.

Vodacom Business Nigeria has signed an agreement for satellite services to expand its enterprise broadband networks and enable new and enhanced services throughout West Africa.

Under a new multi-year agreement, the company will utilise services on Intelsat 35e in an effort to deliver fast, high-quality and resilient broadband connectivity to the banking, oil and gas, and enterprise sectors across the region. 

In addition, Intelsat claimed that the “improved performance, efficiency and lower total cost of ownership” delivered by its satellite will enable Vodacom Business to further enhance the services being offered to its existing customers in Nigeria, expand its offerings in the enterprise and IoT sectors, as well as extend broadband connectivity across the country.

Vodacom Business Nigeria MD Lanre Kolade said that by integrating Intelsat’s satellite services, his network users will gain access to services that provide “real” benefits, such as business connectivity, news updates, and improved quality of services in healthcare, banking and education, in addition to promoting the economic development of these communities.

Intelsat 35e is the fifth satellite to use Intelsat’s EpicNG high throughput system which is designed to enable higher data rate applications and smaller terminals.

The company said this means enterprises can expand into new regions and take advantage of business opportunities regardless of where they occur. 

It added that Vodacom Business Nigeria’s customers will experience an improved quality of service as soon as EpicNG is deployed, and that it positions the company for “bigger operational and business success”.