Vodacom Mozambique will acquire a solution from integrated satellite network solutions provider Intelsat SA to meet local demand for 3G services within the tourism sector.

Under a multi-year agreement with Vodacom International, Intelsat has upgraded a network operated by Vodacom Mozambique using the Intelsat EpicNG high-throughput satellite platform.

According to a media statement the solution delivers 3G services to Pomene, in southern Mozambique.

"Pomene has become an important tourist destination for the country, and as it attracts more visitors and cruise ships, the mobile network infrastructure needed to be rapidly and cost-effectively upgraded to meet increased demand," reads the statement.

Intelsat said its EpicNG solution was able to address all of Vodacom Mozambique's concerns – improving the network's capabilities and "delivering a better connectivity experience in a cost-effective manner."

"At first, we believed the only way to upgrade our network to deliver 3G services was with an expensive terrestrial solution," said Basilio Pereira, executive head of transmission, Vodacom Mozambique. "Working with Intelsat, we were shown how the improved efficiency and throughput of Intelsat EpicNG could meet our needs better than a terrestrial option. In addition, we were able to expand our reach, grow our subscriber base and meet our growth objectives due to the lower total cost of ownership."

Brian Jakins, Intelsat's regional vice president, Africa sales, added, "The performance of Intelsat EpicNG is delivering unprecedented power and efficiency to telecom infrastructure providers. We have combined the traditional strengths of satellite, such as reach and ubiquity, with a new approach that delivers improved economics for mobile network operators. This helps our customers deliver a 3G experience within the constraints of their budgets, and as with the case with Vodacom Mozambique, help them unlock new business opportunities that they had not been able to take advantage of previously."

In May 2018, Intelsat established a partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), in conjunction with Gilat Satellite Networks, to provide high-speed telecom services to rural regions of the country.

According to the agreement, the UCC will leverage IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 3G service, provided via the satellite internet connectivity firm's 37th satellite, as well as the SkyEdge II-c multi-application from Gilat Satellite Networks.