Connectivity doesn’t have to be a city thing; it can be an anywhere and anytime thing with the right technology in place. The United Nations believes that connectivity should be a human right.
It’s the thread that connects people to education, opportunities, information and insights. And it is the golden key that unlocks the door to both personal and business growth.
Yet, there are many parts of South Africa that are still not connected to the internet. The country ranks 68th on the 2021 Digital Quality of Life Index and, even though it’s higher than many other countries listed in this report, it still has to 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 is a vast unconnected area in South Africa and satellite can play a significant role in changing this profile. Good satellite coverage can transform access to connectivity across multiple environments and it can extend to areas just outside the city or to smaller towns or suburbs that have yet to receive reliable fibre.
There are several different forms of connectivity available to the market at the moment. 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 impressive coverage in almost any location which makes it very accessible for people who have limited fibre or mobile network connectivity options. Satellite may have some limitations but proves to be an effective communication medium where Fibre and LTE are not yet available.
From farmers to rural towns to schools, connectivity is an essential tool to support their businesses and their lives. Farmers want reliable connectivity to ensure that their smart systems are working or to gain access to data, and to stream, socialise and network online. There are also many schools and educational institutions in these areas with no or poor internet connectivity. They can’t simply check online for a project or do research by throwing search terms into Google. They rely on creaking tech and limited connectivity that satellites can solve. Connectivity is a right, not a privilege, and so there has to be a bold move towards technology that can enable this.
The downfall of entry-level satellites is that they do not support VPN (virtual private network) services. Providing VPN support on the satellite will cost a lot more than what the average consumer can afford, however, working from home is still possible. Satellite offers users a high level of resilience that ensures consistent connectivity, even in the event of a power failure.
Satellite is reliable and cost-effective, and it’s the ultimate digital nomad. It can be implemented in rural areas and still provide reliable connectivity. It can also be connected to solar panels so that connectivity remains in play during load-shedding which is, in the current climate, an added bonus, particularly for schools and farms that rely on it. Then, moving back into urban or peri-urban areas that opt into satellite, there are the benefits of high-speed connectivity at a really good price point. After all, for most users, the cost comes hand-in-hand with connectivity as nobody wants to pay exorbitant fees for a service that should be readily available.
Image: Pexels-photo-2881229
Source: Gadget
