By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Delegations from five
Southern African countries have visited Angola’s National Space Program to
explore satellite connectivity solutions and space-based applications developed
to support digital transformation and regional connectivity.
The technical exchange
visit, held on Thursday, August 6, at the headquarters of the National Space
Program Management Office (GGPEN), brought together 15 representatives from
telecommunications regulatory authorities in Namibia, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zimbabwe,
and Lesotho.
The participating
institutions included the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia
(CRAN), Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), Tanzania Communications
Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), and Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA).
During the visit, the
delegations were introduced to GGPEN’s portfolio of connectivity services,
technological solutions, and space applications developed under Angola’s
National Space Program.
The presentations
highlighted connectivity services supported by the ANGOSAT-2 satellite,
including the Conecta Angola Comercial platform, as well as space applications
designed for sectors such as environmental monitoring, territorial management,
agriculture, education, communications, and emergency response.
The regulators expressed
interest in the capabilities of ANGOSAT-2, a High Throughput Satellite (HTS)
that provides coverage across the African continent and parts of Southern
Europe. They noted the potential of the satellite infrastructure to support connectivity
expansion and digital service delivery in their respective countries.
Discussions also focused on
the role of ANGOSAT-2 as a backup communications solution capable of
maintaining connectivity during natural disasters or disruptions affecting
terrestrial infrastructure, strengthening the resilience of telecommunications
networks across the region.
The technical exchange took
place alongside the third preparatory meeting of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027
(WRC-27), creating an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences and identify
areas for cooperation in telecommunications and space technology.
