At RASCOM's 74th Board meeting: CAMTEL, African satellite operators commit to boost digital connectivity.

This was in the course of the 74th Board of Directors meeting of the regional body. The three-day high-level meeting is being hosted by Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL.

The strategic gathering which ends today is presided over by General Manager of CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi.

It has brought together member states and key strategic partners. Delegates at the meeting from across Africa have been discussing the latest developments and trends within the satellite space. 

Authorities said at the opening that the conference seeks to provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, address challenges, and explore opportunities for growth and collaboration.

The Yaounde gathering has been described as being pivotal to the future of telecommunications in Africa

“This meeting will be a crucial step in shaping the future of satellite communications in Africa,” said Timothy Ashong, Acting Managing Director of RASCOM, at the opening ceremony. 

The Ghanian telecommunication engineer with over 20 years of experience in the telecoms industry continued that “it is very crucial at this moment for Africa to take stock of what we have in terms of satellite connectivity and how we are going to move forward”.

Ashong who in 2015, was elected the Vice Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, for the satellite sector (ITU-R Study Group 4), recalled that: “At the last board meeting, the board approved a strategic approach for the next five years. Today, we are still going to highlight and also build on that strategic approach”. 

He said the strategic approach focuses more on how Africa can use the continent’s satellite communication operators achieve the continent’s digital connectivity “and that is what we are going to discuss today”. 

“We believe that after this meeting, we are going to have some outputs which will go a very long way to help the Africa satellite communication market for the betterment of Africa,” he added.

Ambitious programme for a connected Africa

After a difficult period, the Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation, RASCOM, has relaunched its activities with a strategic approach for the next five years, as revealed by Bini Kouame, Chairman of the organization's Board of Directors.

“It's crucial at this time for Africa to take stock of its satellite connectivity assets and chart the way forward,” said the Chairman of RASCOM, underlining the importance of the three-day meeting which focuses on how African satellite communications operators can contribute to the realisation of digital connectivity.

Satellite solutions for greater resilience

The importance of the Yaounde gathering, officials say is crucial given that in March 2024, Africa suffered a major setback with the disruption of some of its undersea cables.

The General Manager of CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, who is chairing the Yaounde meeting emphasised that: “The satellite solution today presents itself as an opportunity that will enable countries to stay connected, no matter whatever problems that are encountered with other communication channels”.

RASCOM, it should be said, is at the fore of a transformation in satellite communications, determined to bridge the digital divide in Africa. 

Its five-year strategy is based on promoting partnerships, strengthening technical expertise and stimulating sustainable growth.

RASCOM in a nutshell

The Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation, RASCOM, is a Pan-African Satellite Communication Organisation, created from the will of African Governments and States, and set up in order to bridge the digital divide between the continent and the rest of the world using satellite telecommunications.

To overcome the challenges of the digital divide and the opening up of rural areas in Africa, the member States of the Oganisation of African Union (currently African Union) agreed to establish a satellite telecommunications system as part of an enhanced telecommunications network for Africa, intended to provide expanded telecommunications and broadcasting services to all African countries to help bridge the digital divide with the rest of the world.