Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) and Dalkom Somalia have signed an agreement for satellite services that will expand the latter's broadband enterprise and DTH)services in East and Central Africa and the Middle East.
Under a multi-year agreement, Dalkom, a privately owned operator based in Somalia, will incorporate Ku-band satellite services provided by Intelsat 17 to extend services currently delivered by the firm's fiber network. This includes expanding broadband enterprise networks into countries such as South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the Middle East. Dalkom will also add DTH services to its portfolio in Somalia. Intelsat 17, located at 66° East, is part of Intelsat’s video neighborhood in the Indian Ocean region.
Mohamed Jama, the CEO of Dalkom, reported that his company has a strong terrestrial fiber network, but the opportunities to expand into new regions and capitalize on new opportunities were limited. By adding Intelsat’s satellite expertise to our network, the company can expand our enterprise services into regions where terrestrial technology cannot provide services. Intelsat 17 will also allow us to capitalize on Intelsat’s media distribution knowledge to introduce DTH services for customers. This makes Dalkom the first company to offer these bundled services in Somalia, offering customers a one stop shop for communication solutions.
Artistic rendition of the Intelsat 17 satellite. Image is courtesy of SSL.
Brian Jakins, Intelsat’s Vice President, Africa, added that Dalkom has offered satellite services in the past, but the versatility of the Intelsat 17 satellite convinced them that moving to Intelsat was the best option for meeting their expansion goals. The ability to deliver broadband enterprise and DTH services via the same platform provides easy access to new markets and customers without worrying about network reach and reliability. This allows Dalkom to focus on growing its business. The Intelsat satellite platform will also complement Dalkom's fiber services by serving as an instantly available back-up to protect against any service interruptions.
