MWEB Africa acquires AFSAT

A subsidiary of Naspers Limited, MWEB Africa, has acquired African satellite-based Internet Service Provider (ISP), AFSAT Communications Limited.

Chief executive officer, MWEB Africa, Mr. Harry Aucamp, disclosed this at the weekend and said that the acquisition takes MWEB Africa’s representation on the continent from 16 to 26 countries.

MWEB Africa, he said, has subsidiaries in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

AFSAT claims to be Africa’s biggest satellite based ISP and active in over 26 countries across East, West and Southern Africa, with operating subsidiaries in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

Mr. Aucamp also said that MWEB Africa’s strategy is to expand its presence and Internet services throughout Africa.

“The acquisition of AFSAT will considerably strengthen our representation and underlines our commitment to be a leading player in this dynamic market. The AFSAT iWay service is a perfect fit with our current MWEB VSAT service,” he said.

He stressed that the acquisition significantly strengthens MWEB’s African presence, making it one of the biggest providers of Internet connectivity services, with more representation and clients than any other service provider on the continent.

Additional benefit of the acquisition to MWEB customers, he said is that would be the various cross-border connectivity and facilities linking to both the United States and Europe.

He added that the AFSAT platform is the leading satellite data service in Africa and will enable his firm to offer customers in these markets a high quality, reliable and flexible service.

“In many African countries, companies, governments and home users cannot rely on fixed line broadband services, so satellite-based Internet access becomes a vital link to the rest of Africa and the world,” he said.

Mr. Aucamp expressed the believe that the potential for growth is excellent especially now it has added AFSAT to its offering, thus putting MWEB Africa in an position to take advantage of this potential.

Founder chief executive of AFSAT, Salim Suleman who would remain with the company as Group Managing Director, said that he looks forward to becoming part of the large MWEB family.

“We have a common vision for the business, and the resources that MWEB bring will enable the business to expand to a new level,” he said.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D