OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Thursday 9.15pm.
A GERMAN grant of 28 mini-satellite terminals has boosted the setting up of a communication network linking the defence forces of the 14 members of the Southern African Development Community, the SA Army said on Thursday.
A telecommunications working group of the Inter-State Defence Security Committee, comprising representatives of all 14 SADC member countries, has been investigating various options for such a “hot line” for two years.
In a statement released in Pretoria on Thursday nthe committee said: “The telecommunications committee has concluded that the use of the InMarSat satellite system will be the most cost effective solution.
“The Federal Republic of Germany has kindly offered to donate two mini-satellite terminals to each of the SADC countries for their use.”
The equipment will be received at a function in Pretoria on Friday.