Intelsat has announced it has been selected by Malian mobile network operator (MNO) Orange Mali to bring 3G and 4G connectivity to hard-to-reach areas in the country. In a press release regarding the development, Intelsat claimed the agreement ‘marked a first in Francophone West Africa – the successful deployment of 4G networks over satellite, judged to be the optimal solution given the size of the country and the logistics involved’.
Commenting, Intelsat general manager and vice president of Networks, Brian Jakins, said: ‘The Intelsat team is partnering with Orange Mali to help resolve a serious connectivity problem in a country where terrestrial infrastructure quality is less reliable.’ Meanwhile, Orange Mali’s technical director, Moussa Yaro, added: ‘From a feasibility and economic standpoint, satellite communications are ideal for deploying 3G and 4G coverage in a country like ours … Intelsat’s reputation as an innovative market leader providing seamless coverage in some of the most remote corners of the world, along with our excellent current working relationship with the company, makes them the ideal solution for our needs.’