By: Nana Appiah
Acquaye
SES has highlighted growing
opportunities for satellite-enabled connectivity and digital infrastructure in
South Africa following a recent engagement with customers, partners, government
stakeholders and its local team.
Jean-Philippe Gillet,
President of the Fixed Vertical at SES, said the visit provided an opportunity
to assess developments in South Africa’s digital transformation and
connectivity landscape, with discussions focusing on digital sovereignty,
secure communications and emerging non-terrestrial network technologies.
Gillet said the scale of the
opportunity in South Africa was evident through the country’s growing focus on
digital transformation, resilient connectivity infrastructure and economic
growth.
A key area of discussion was
the development of Direct-to-Device (D2D) services, which could enable
satellite networks to extend mobile connectivity to people and locations beyond
the reach of conventional terrestrial infrastructure.
SES also discussed its
meoSphere programme and 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) architecture, which
the company says can support mobile operators as they prepare for increasingly
ubiquitous connectivity.
The engagement also covered
progress involving Lynk and the potential role of D2D technology in expanding
access to communications services.
Gillet said he also met
South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly
Malatsi, and his team to discuss developments in non-terrestrial networks and
their potential contribution to the country’s digital ambitions.
The discussions come as
satellite and NTN technologies attract increasing attention as complementary
solutions to terrestrial networks, particularly for improving connectivity
resilience and extending coverage to underserved areas.
SES’s engagement in South
Africa also included meetings with local customers and partners, as well as
interaction with the company’s local workforce.
Gillet said the visit
reinforced his view of the opportunities within the South African market and
the wider African connectivity ecosystem, noting the region’s entrepreneurial
activity and growing demand for innovative digital infrastructure.
