The Eutelsat-owned satellite broadband service provider, Konnect Africa, has unveiled
SmartWIFI, a new hotspot service, as part of its ongoing commitment to bring
digital opportunities to Africans, reports ITRealms.
This new service, ITRealms
reports, leverages Konnect Africa’s powerful, reliable satellite broadband
network to enable sales outlets (retailers, hospitalities, gas stations, etc.)
as well as healthcare centres or schools to become a connectivity point and
digital gateway to opportunity for the surrounding population. Users will be
able to access the internet from a distance of several hundred metres around
the hotspot. Access can be extended to several kilometres through off-the-shelf
Wi-Fi repeaters.
Konnect Africa CEO, Laurent Grimaldi, said that users could
access the SmartWIFI service through vouchers or mobile payment schemes. In
addition, SmartWIFI comes with a unique local data storage system, enabling
users in remote areas to access smart digital content free of data charges,
including online courses and education programmes, sports and entertainment.
Mobile and computer applications will also be available to help support daily
business activities.
“This new Wi-Fi hotspot solution is designed specifically to
address the needs of the majority of the African population that lives in rural
areas, where there is a need to reduce the digital divide. In leveraging the
ubiquity of our satellite network and locally operated hotspots we will foster
more productive uses of digital technology to make everyday tasks easier for
individuals and allow businesses in more remote areas to expand their footprint
– let’s just think of weather apps to assist farmers, mobile phones to display
bus timetables, or better information on market days that can help small
producers enlarge their catchment area”, he said.
SmartWIFI will be available in all countries covered by
Konnect Africa’s satellite broadband service. The new hotspot service will be
deployed in partnership with local Internet service providers and telecom
operators in strategic areas across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ayo Midele/GEE
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