Depending only on fibre optic makes Nigeria’s broadband vulnerable — Eutelsat VP

Simon Gray is the Vice President of Humanitarian Affairs for Eutelsat and also a member of the ITU advisory board for developing disaster communications strategy world-wide. In this interview with Daily Trust, he says Nigeria needs satellite technology to take internet to areas where fibre optic network hasn’t reached. GSM technology has still not reached […]

Simon Gray is the Vice President of Humanitarian Affairs for Eutelsat and also a member of the ITU advisory board for developing disaster communications strategy world-wide. In this interview with Daily Trust, he says Nigeria needs satellite technology to take internet to areas where fibre optic network hasn’t reached.

GSM technology has still not reached some areas in Nigeria. How can the government solve this problem?

Satellite technology has a huge advantage in this aspect. It has huge infrastructure to give you internet broadband. And satellite offers internet at affordable prices.  Let me add though that satellite will never replace fibre and it will never replace GSM. But it must be an integral part of the policy, especially to connect the unconnected areas.

It is done in such way that you construct your wifi network around a satellite. The satellite will be there until fibre arrives. You have got to construct your wifi networks anticipating fibre will be there one day.

 You connect wifi around those areas. You have your satellite point and your wifi will distribute it out. The satellite will provide service in those areas.

And when fibre finally comes, you leave the satellite tech in place. It therefore means you guys will have resilient network: fibre plus satellite backup. You leave the satellite in place so that whenever the fibre is cut the satellite will be used as backup. And satellite is very easy to replace, in less than one hour, you place a satellite. Fibre is vulnerable; digging of ground to lay the fibre also costs hundreds of millions of dollars. But satellite is far less than that. It gives you that opportunity to keep connection without spending huge amount of money.

How long have you been in Nigeria?

 We have been in Africa for the last 14 years. Our affiliate Konnect Africa, which aims to be the leading player in providing broadband solutions to telecom operators internet service providers throughout Africa, has been closely working with the Nigerian ISP Coollink to launch in August this year broadband satellite services to consumers and enterprises across the Nigerian territory and beyond.

What report have you got about Nigeria so far?

Yeah, fantastic! There is huge business opportunity here.

 

 Nigeria is switching over from analogue to digital broadcasting. What do you think is the best approach we can use to achieve a better switch over?

We have helped in digitalisation of most countries in Europe and we have been involved in the rollout of digital switch in other places as well.  

How many employees do you have in Nigeria?

We have got about 20.

How is an overview of Eutelsat humanitarian activities like?

We donated 20 systems during the Ebola outbreak in some parts of Africa. We also constructed the first NGO training centre in Africa, and we donated equipment there. We also donated 20 terminals for the refugees in some parts of Africa, and we are providing six month free bandwidth to IDPs across Africa.

And every year we provide money and terminals and free bandwidth to Telecom Frontiers, working for the UN.

Do you work with governments? 

We work with governments through the UN. We also work with NGOs.