THURSDAY, 11.30AM
SOUTH African telcommunications parastatal Telkom significantly strengthened its monopoly on regional telecoms with the signing earlier this week of a contract to build and operate one of 12 global satellite access nodes (SANs) for ICO Global Communications.
Work has already begun on the SAN at Hartebeeshoek satellite tracking station west of Pretoria.
The SAN will cover all of Africa as part of ICO’s global network, providing access to new-generation personal communications services through integration of satellite and terrestrial communications networks.
Telkom holds a $20-million interest in ICO, making it the biggest African investor.