THE LAST WORD
12 September 2023
Kim Buller, CFO and co-founder, Alchemy Telco
Who was your hero when you were growing up?
My father. He is incredibly principled and so hardworking. A humble self-made man, who enjoys his own company, is happiest in the vast garden he created or his greenhouse and potting shed, which houses his tractor, a landline phone, kettle, microwave, and small TV to watch the golf and cricket.
We often say he just needs a bed …. His interests are so diverse. He knows the call of every bird and where they are nesting, is an incredible sportsman, plays a mean game of darts and enjoys his bridge. I would say he taught me to enjoy hard work and to never be ‘bored.’ I have not seen him for some years, but I am sure he will still be out with his chain saw at the age of 86.
Read the full articleFEATURE: ESIM
11 September 2023
eSIMs are big news across the world, shaking up the environment for IoT/M2M and consumer devices alike. But what impact is the technology having in Africa?
Embedded SIMs or eSIMs have been taking the wireless comms world by storm since the first standard was released in 2016. Instead of an integrated circuit on a removable SIM card, eSIMs comprise software installed onto an eUICC chip which is permanently installed on the device. Once active, the eSIM can be reprogrammed remotely with new information, enabling rapid, hands-free carrier switching.
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RURAL CONNECTIVITY
08 August 2023
The delivery of 5G – or other high-speed connectivity – to remote and rural regions remains a challenge across the continent, and one with no single answer, outlines Amy Saunders
The huge deficit of broadband availability across the African continent is well-known - the ITU estimates that 299 million people, approximately 23% of the continent, have no access to mobile broadband - rendering efforts to make it more accessible and affordable critical to improving the economic outlook across all nations.
Read the full articleTHE LAST WORD
11 July 2023
Utpal Bhowmick, senior sales director, Middle East & Africa, Hughes Network Systems
Who was your hero when you were growing up?
Like most kids who grew up in the 90s in India, I absolutely idolized the cricket player Sachin Tendulkar! He is one of the world’s best cricket players, and whether or not you follow the sport, he was a huge inspiration to so many people. He showed us what you can achieve by putting in the hard work and even at the peak of his success, he always displayed such humility and a great attitude.
What was your big career break?
I can honestly say my big break was when I started working at Hughes Network Systems. Prior to Hughes, I worked for a big equipment provider, so it was a big transition to move into the satellite niche within the telecommunications industry. It was a welcome challenge to step into this role and a great opportunity. I feel very fortunate to be part of an innovative company like Hughes with such a long and rich history in the satellite industry – we’ve been at this for over five decades now! While I’ve only been here about five years, I can now say I am thoroughly entrenched in this industry and can’t imagine working elsewhere.