Broadcast Media Africa has learnt that Omnispace, a United States company, has partnered with MTN Group to explore the use of S-band satellite services to broaden Africa’s largest mobile operator’s wireless service portfolio in its markets.
MTN Group offers mobile, data, finance, digital, enterprise, wholesale, and API services to over 290 million subscribers across 19 markets
According to a recent statement, this effort demonstrates Omnispace and MTN’s shared commitment to creating cost-effective global connectivity options beyond traditional cellular and land-based networks.
The partnership will see the two companies explore integrating MTN’s terrestrial mobile networks with the Omnispace non-terrestrial (NTN) network, leveraging 3GPP standards to serve consumer mobile and enterprise IoT services.
BMA understands that Omnispace will create a next-generation standards-based mobile and IoT network for MTN markets. Meanwhile, the firms will collaborate to test current technologies, demonstrate capabilities, and explore use cases for Omnispace’s on-orbit satellites.
Furthermore, the companies will discuss how they may collaborate to establish and grow a device and software ecosystem. MTN’s satellite move comes about a year after the company revealed it was exploring space technologies to deliver uninterrupted and excellent connectivity to its markets.
Last year, Ralph Mupita, MTN Group CEO, expressed the telco’s keen interest in space technologies on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying: “We are watching very closely as MTN. It’s early days, but the future of telecoms is always on the network, leveraging the assets, subsea, terrestrial, and space.
Ram Viswanathan, CEO of Omnispace, said: “This collaborative effort would offer access to secure, cost-effective, ubiquitous 5G mobile connectivity by seamlessly integrating our respective satellite and terrestrial networks.”
He expressed his desire to work with MTN to deliver the “first-of-its-kind, 3GPP standards-based solution to add non-terrestrial network connectivity to a large ecosystem of compatible devices, products, and applications.”
Mazen Mroué, MTN Group’s chief technology and information officer, commented: “Through this collaboration, we aim to methodically extend the reach of our services, understanding the profound role connectivity plays in shaping societies and supporting growth.”
