Provider of mobile satellite voice and data services Globalstar has announced plans to construct a gateway to supply affordable connectivity across southern Africa.

Globalstar says it has partnered with Broadband Botswana Internet (BBi) to construct a gateway in landlocked country's capital city, Gaborone.

The gateway, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year, will provide Globalstar's full line of Simplex services.

Globalstar's services include SPOT line of affordable personal tracking and life-saving solutions as well as its line of commercial Simplex tracking and monitoring solutions.

And once completed the gateway is expected to provide coverage in surrounding countries like Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia.

Jay Monroe, chairman and chief executive officer of Globalstar says in a statement, "We believe that southern Africa is a significant untapped market for our traditional MSS solutions and we thank our partner at BBi for all of their efforts to make this opportunity a reality."

Monroe added, "Whether you are going to southern Africa on a safari, work assignment, or to perform humanitarian work, the ability to let your friends, family or colleagues know that you are 'OK', or to summon emergency assistance if you are not, will be only a button-push away."

Globalstar also plans to target mining and oil and gas applications, personal assets, commercial trucking and animal tracking markets, the report notes.

"Additionally, for the first time, people and industries in the local area will have access to affordable satellite solutions for personal and asset tracking and we look forward to bringing this service live in just a few months," said Monroe.