Africom optimistic about new product
Leading data telecommunications company Africom, which on
24th of June 2004 launched Afrisat, the latest satellite communication
technology which complements its existing broadband wireless
and fibre optic communication links said it hoped that the
new product would cover all areas in order to reach the intended
clients.
Afrisat in a V-Sat (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network.
It uses similar technology that is used in satellite television
broadcasting. This enables Africom to offer its data telecommunications
service anywhere in the country, no matter how remote, utilizing
satellite signals.
The new service was launched by Africom chairman Boyman Mancama
at a breakfast meeting in Borrowdale, Harare, attended by
a large number of Africom clients from both the private and
public sectors. Introducing customers to the latest addition
to Africom’s networking infrastructure, Africom chief
operating officer Paul Chiobvu said Africom had invested in
an earth station that would provide satellite connectivity.
He said it had already tested the Afrisat facility with one
of its key clients. Afrisat was easy to work with and reliable.
It could be deployed quickly and overcome terrestrial boundaries.
Officially launching this addition to Africom’s already
extensive infrastructure, Mancama said in today’s world
it is the power to communicate, act and decide without old
constraints of time and distance that enables business to
succeed.
“At Africom our work is not restricted to commercial
enterprises alone,” he said “We believe information
communication technology is fundamental to economic growth
as well as sustainable social development. Consequently we
deliberately participate in and complement national initiatives
in providing alternative communication solutions.
“This infrastructure we are building will enable our
country’s population to participate in regional and global
markets and leverage on these markets to drive on economic
growth.”
He suggested that a good business is no longer guaranteed
by the right amount of financing, resources, motivation or
experience but a good business communication system that enables
the business to sell and deliver it’s products and value
added services much faster and cheaper than its competitors”
he said.
“At Africom we believe in co-operating with our competitors
in the development of infrastructure and with them in our
service offer,” he said.
To enhance the development of information communication technology
in Zimbabwe, Africom is progressively introducing services
to fill the communication gap.
The Launch of Afrisat means that Africom is now utilizing
satellite, fibre optic and broadband wireless to provide high
quality and high speed networking connections nation-wide.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Posts and Telecommunications
Regulatory authority (Potraz) director of finance and administration
Alfred Marisa said Potraz was delighted with the new development.
He said the ability to reach out to remote areas with modern
technology was becoming more and more important. He commended
Africom for it’s compliance with regulations.
He acknowledged that Africom is the first to comply with
regulations on moving from the ISM band to a licensed frequency
ban. Africom was the first private company in Zimbabwe to
receive a public data network license from Potraz. Speaking
at the same occasion, Zimbabwe Telephone Users’ Association
chairman Reuben Gwatidzo said the users of telecommunication
services expected services to be accessible, reliable and
affordable. Commenting on Afrisat catch line of ‘Worldwide
Connectivity for everyone’ he stressed the importance
of connectivity being worldwide and available for everyone.
Daily Mirror 30 June 2004
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