Gateway Communications partner with Cambridge Broadband to create Nigeria’s largest point to multipoint broadband wireless network

Lagos, Nigeria, 29th January 2010: Gateway Communications Nigeria, headquartered in Lagos, today announced a contract with Cambridge Broadband Networks to create Nigeria’s largest point to multipoint broadband wireless network. Gateway will use Cambridge Broadband’s industry leading VectaStar II platform to provision 130 hubs and 5000 terminal stations that will deliver last mile broadband connections across Nigeria.

Gateway Communications are building a pan-African, MPLS network that covers every major African city and has acquired 10.5GHz spectrum licences for point to multipoint in Nigeria to further the project. The company will roll out wireless broadband services across 10 Nigerian states in 2010, with Port Harcourt and Abuja scheduled to go live in March. It is anticipated that a further 26 states will go live through 2011. The deal follows Gateway’s successful roll out of its award winning AirlinkTM and MetroLinkTM wireless broadband services, using 10.5GHz solutions in Lagos.

“Being able to connect to our enterprise customers in their own premises and control the last mile ensures that all Nigerian business will now be able to benefit from carrier grade solutions, no matter what their size,” said Guy Clarke, Managing Director, Gateway Nigeria “and Gateway has an aggressive roll-out plan for last mile access for their wireless broadband networks in 2010 and 2011. We needed an efficient, reliable and high capacity solution that could be deployed quickly, and CBN’s point to multi point solution met those requirements”.

AirLinkTM and MetroLinkTM are new high speed broadband wireless access (BWA) solutions that Gateway believe will revolutionize how Nigerian businesses use their online applications, their ability to communicate at higher speeds with connected Nigerian businesses and their access to the Internet.  Both are currently available in Lagos and will, over the next few months, be delivered to all major metropolitan areas across Nigeria.

Gateway’s BWA products take the limits off traditional fixed line networks, and allow all sizes and sectors of business to access high speed data services wirelessly, and with total security.  Designed for fast installation and low cost of maintenance, Gateway’s AirLinkTM and MetroLinkTM products and scalable and efficient, and flexible enough to service their international banking customers as well as Nigeria’s growing number of dynamic small enterprises.

“The agreement with Gateway perfectly illustrates the clear benefits of Cambridge Broadband’s VectaStar II solution,” commented Graham Peel, Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Broadband Networks. “This latest mass deployment provides further validation of the technology and CBN’s ability to deliver.”

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About Gateway Communications (www.gatewaycomms.com)
Gateway Communications is the leading pan-African wholesale connectivity and telecommunications provider, working in partnership with Africa’s mobile operators, and helping many of the world’s largest corporations stay connected across Africa and into the rest of the world. Gateway’s core infrastructure connects over 580 million people, across more than 40 African countries and includes over 50 satellite transponders over Africa, 24 dedicated teleports throughout Africa, and access to multiple sub-sea cable landing ports around the African continent. Gateway Communications is recognised for setting the standards for tomorrow’s communications. Gateway Communications is wholly owned by Vodacom Group Limited, which is listed on the JSE Limited under the symbol VOD.

To read more about Gateway’s recent achievements please go to www.gatewaycomms.com/awards.html

Tim Newbold, Africa Practice Nigeria

tnewbold@africapractice.com

+234 (805) 4949 866

About Cambridge Broadband Networks (www.cbnl.com),
Cambridge Broadband Networks a member of the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance (NGMN), provides telecommunications operators with carrier-class wireless point-to-multipoint transmission equipment. The company’s unique approach to backhaul means that its technology provides operators with a highly compelling business case, reducing backhaul costs by up to 60%. To date, Cambridge Broadband Networks products have been commercially deployed and technically proven in more than 30 countries, and the company continues to expand into new geographical markets as wireless networks become more widespread throughout the world. Privately-held, Cambridge Broadband Networks has headquarters in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Malaysia and South Africa and manufacturing facilities in China.