The need for affordable, reliable connectivity is more important than ever, owing to the competitive and difficult business environment South Africa is facing, independent telecoms operator Vox Telecom CEO Jacques du Toit tells Engineering News.

The company introduced a new broadband satellite service, YahClick, at the end of last year to meet the demand.

YahClick is a Ka-band, broadband satellite service that delivers reliable, high-speed Internet connectivity to users in areas with limited or no Internet access, at costs comparable to current terrestrial services, says Du Toit.

The service is available in a range of packages that suit different environments and user segments, providing basic Internet access for home users to high-speed service plans for corporations

YahClick offers unlimited uploads and it is quick to install – users do not have to wait weeks for installation or put up with poor signals and cable theft, states Du Toit, adding that the product ensures that the satellite is a viable option for any South African.

The satellite service uses Ka-band satellite technology, which is provided by private joint stock company Al Yah Satellite Communications PJSC (Yahsat) Company, fully owned by development company Mubadala, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government.

YahClick is delivered through the Y1B satellite from Yahsat and through ground equipment from satellite broadband sevice provider for home and office use Hughes Network Systems, which has to date shipped more than 1.5-million user terminals and hub equipment world- wide.

Hughes Network Systems is operating its own Ka-band broadband service, Hughes Net, in the US, with 500 000 subscribers.

Ka-band uses ‘spot beams’ rather than broadcasting over an entire continent. This results in far more efficient use of the available broadband and a lower cost to the customer.

“YahClick will perform consistently, regardless of the level of telecommunications infrastructure available in a country. “Similar systems have been successful in the US, the world’s most connected country, where there are already more than one-million satellite broad- band subscribers

,” Du Toit concludes.