Customers receive increased reliability across Africa as Gateway upgrade their
core network with DVB-S2
Gateway has upgraded its pan-African network from the original Digital Video Broadcasting
standard for satellite to a second generation system; DVB-S2. Migrating to the new standards
allows more efficient use of scarce African satellite capacity and as a consequence significantly
improves the commercial position of Gateway in the marketplace.
Gateway has spent the last six months transitioning more than 1,000 customers onto a new
network that has dramatically improved speed, security and network reliability. Initially, Gateway’s
entire hub infrastructure had to be prepared in order to migrate its customers from the older
iDirect Infinity system to the new Evolution DVB-S2/ACM system.
The transition began in West Africa where Gateway’s corporate customers switched across
seamlessly, with no service interruption.
Extensive independent tests show that DVB-S2 systems can deliver substantial improvements in
network uptime through Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), the ability to change encoding
parameters in real time.
For customers this means that their service doesn’t drop off during adverse conditions. This is
because rather than there being a service outage, there is instead a small drop in bandwidth speed
as the coding adapts to the most suitable speed for the conditions.
Upgrading the network has maximized Gateway’s efficiency in utilizing its backbone and bandwidth.
This means Gateway can continue to provide the highest quality service level and network
availability to its customers in the most effective efficient manner.
Phil Braden, Group Projects Director commented on the network upgrade, “At Gateway we
continually review our technology platforms to look for methods to serve our customers in the best manner possible.
Our broad range of services means that we can offer our clients in Africa the right solution for their business with increased efficiency and reduced costs throughout the network. This network upgrade is just one example of how Gateway is building the future of African communications.”
About Etisalat
Currently standing at the
140th position among Financial
Times' top 500 corporations
in the world, Etisalat is
the largest provider of telecommunication
service in Africa and the
Middle East and serves a growing
aggregate customer base of
74 million subscribers across
Africa, Middle East and Asia.
Etisalat currently has footprints
in 18 countries in three continents
across the world.
About Gateway Communications
Gateway Communications owns and operates the largest and most advanced pan-African
telecommunications network. Our scale, reach and resources are unparalleled. Gateway connects
over 583 million people in over 40 African countries, working in partnership with the continents
leading mobile phone operators.
Our business experts are creating prosperity across Africa by working closely with multinational
corporations; in banking and finance, oil and gas, mining and construction, retail and distribution,
airlines and other important sectors.
With more than 47 transponders of satellite capacity over Africa Gateway manage more
connectivity over the continent than any other operator. And with 24 dedicated teleports, access
to multiple sun sea cable landing ports in east and west Africa, 17 African offices and 350 local
experts, we’ve got more on the ground support than any other operator.
Gateway is committed to developing long term communications solutions and investing for the long
term in the communities where we operate. Gateway has been recognised by the rest of the
industry for setting the standards for tomorrow’s communications in Africa.
Gateway has recently been awarded
- Wireless Network Infrastructure Innovation, Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards
Jun 2009
- Best Satellite Service Provider 2009, SatCom Stars Awards April 2009
- Excellence in Innovation in Satellite Cellular Services, Intelsat Awards November 2008
- Best Wholesale Operator in Africa, Capacity Awards November 2008
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