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Emirati Yahsat launches internet service in Cameroon

Cameroon , 02 Oct 2018

Emirati Yahsat launches internet service in Cameroon

Satellite communications services provider Emirati Yahsat is offering internet connectivity services via its flagship broadband offering YahClick in Cameroon.

In a statement, Yahsat said it aims to improve the West African country's broadband internet penetration rate and provide internet connectivity in areas where mobile operators and access providers' fibre optic infrastructure is either weak or dormant.

In Cameroon, Yahsat will compete with the likes of Cameroon Telecommunications (CamTel) which signed an agreement with Belgian provider of VSAT services SatADSL to distribute satellite broadband internet services.

Cameroon's satellite internet service market includes players Bloosat and GoSat.

Bloosat partnered with Africa Konnect, a subsidiary of French company Eutelsat, and officially launched its operations in the country in July 2017. The company, whose services are currently only available in the Littoral and West regions, plans to expand nationwide in 2019.

GoSat also entered an agreement with Africa Konnect in July 2017 and plans to deliver high-speed internet satellite that will reach one-third of Cameroon's national population.

In July 2018, Yahsat announced plans to expand its operations across West Africa when it showcased YahClick at West Africa Com.

Farhad Khan, Chief Commercial Officer at Yahsat said, "Africa is a high-priority market for us, and with the commercial readiness of our third satellite Al Yah 3, we are now able to offer our broadband connectivity solutions to even more markets across the continent."

In September 2018, ITWeb Africa also reported Yahsat's joint venture with Hughes Network Systems (HUGHES), a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, to provide commercial Ka-band satellite broadband services across Africa, the Middle East and southwest Asia.

In addition to the latest announcement, Yahsat has already expressed interest in expanding its operations in Africa to five new markets in West Africa including Senegal and Gambia through Yahsat's service partner Arc Telecom, in Ivory Coast through CEE-NET, in Benin through Isocel, and in Ghana through Teledata and Comsys.

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