Q-KON, a specialist service provider and systems integrator, has successfully deployed a satellite Regional Node solution to provide critical primary and backup communication for a financial VSAT network in Swaziland. Q-KON partnered with VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a member of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), for the installation – a world first.

Q-KON is a telecommunications system integrator and project house with almost 30 years' experience in the financial sector in most African countries. With a long history of communications networks in Swaziland, Q-KON was approached by a major bank in Swaziland to provide reliable primary and backup communication for their ATM's and branches, both in-country and back to its International Headquarters located in South Africa.

The financial sector is one of the most rapidly evolving verticals in Africa. The drive to increase financial inclusion and expanding the customer base relies heavily on a high availability communication network not bounded by geographical constraints. VSAT connectivity remains the ultimate "always on, anywhere" communication medium that can enable self-service banking at ATMs, online banking, reliable POS connectivity, retail banking and voice and telephony needs.

"Following an extensive evaluation for the right solution that could help us to provide reliable, low latency communication without the CAPEX required for a traditional HUB network, we chose the iDirect Regional Node Solution based on its innovative design and cost effectiveness, ideal for packet data communication," says Dr. Dawie de Wet, CEO, Q-KON. "Going forward, we anticipate to be able to leverage this technology for many of our other customers in the financial sector across Africa. This is also the ideal solution where banking regulation dictates in-country termination of financial transactions"