Eutelsat, Camusat partner to bring mobile connectivity to rural Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa's mobile operators will have expanded and better services through a new partnership between telecom infrastucture company Camusat and satellite operations leader Eutelsat Communications.

The companies are teaming to be a part of the growth of mobile communications in the region, particularly in under-developed and rural areas of the continent. Projects the companies plan to undertake will take several years to complete.

"This new partnership with Eutelsat in a tremendously dynamic market represents a future growth driver from which our mobile operator clients will be able to derive maximum benefit by extending the limits of their markets," Camusat Chief Executive Officer Richard Thomas said. "This agreement will ensure connectivity for communities who have remained beyond reach of mobile networks."

While Eutelsat will provide satellite coverage to these outlying African territories, Camusat will work on the telecom infrastructure, building, installing and maintaining electrical systems and towers for mobile telephony networks.

"This partnership marks a new step in our collaboration with Africa's mobile telephony operators," Michel Azibert, Eutelsat's commercial and development director, said. "In addition to regular lease of satellite capacity to support network development, our new partnership with Camusat equips us to offer solutions covering the entire communication chain with maximum flexibility and irrespective of location."