Satellite Internet in Guinea

Satellite Internet Access Service

Situated on the West coast of Africa and bordered by Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast, Guinea (or The Republic of Guinea), is a country rich in natural resources. The country boasts over 25 percent or more of the world’s bauxite resources, and is also an exporter of coffee, peanuts, bananas, palm oil and pineapples. Guinea has a population of around 13 million and most people are employed in the agricultural sector.

Mining also features heavily in the Guinean economy. With high grade iron ore available on top of bauxite reserves and diamonds and gold, there is a great deal of potential for Guinea to do very well from its mining industry. Infrastructure however, does require development as does the Guinean broadband sector.

Limited Internet Penetration

At present, of the 13 million-strong population, 1m are Internet users. That equals 9.8% of the population. As in other countries in Africa, there has been an explosion in mobile phone usage. Two international mobile network operators are working in Guinea and this has driven the mobile market to impressive growth. However, large areas of the country remain virtually untapped. This creates a great opportunity for satellite-based broadband services.

VSAT-based services could be a great tool for use within Guniea’s industrial sectors. Mine owners, for example can benefit greatly from the installation of a rapidly deployed, scalable and cost-effective VSAT network. Improving communications in and around the mine itself results in increased productivity and also enhances safety and crew welfare. As mines are located in remote areas, VSAT also plays a key role in connecting remote sites with headquarters and can help with important decision making. In many cases, a great amount of data must be sent to and from remote sites. Using VSAT-based solutions, this is simplified as there is no requirement for terrestrial infrastructure.

Potential for Mobile Communications

In terms of Guinea’s mobile sector, the potential for growth is huge. Since international mobile operators have entered the market, the growth in mobile ownership has been very significant. However, it can be very difficult for MNOs to capitalise on this growth when there are so many untapped rural and remote areas of the country. It simply is not always feasible to build cellular masts in these regions. However, there are hundreds of thousands, even millions of people that are potential smartphone users. By extending cellular networks via VSAT, this problem is eliminated as VSAT provides the ideal tool for mobile backhaul, enabling MNOs to extend their subscriber bases away from towns and cities across Guinea.

This extension of a cellular network brings with it some incredible applications. For example, smartphones were used to help to tackle the recent Ebola crisis in Guinea. Using smartphones, health workers are able to create maps of affected areas and collate other vital information in an effort to combat the disease. Smartphones can also be used to disseminate information via messaging or the Internet.

From industry to health, Guinea has a lot to gain from satellite-based connectivity. BusinessCom Networks is able to tailor solutions that fit each individual need and our experience of working in the region means that we have local knowledge and technicians. We can find the right connectivity solution for your situation and your budget.