July, 2017

Austin Okere: Africa’s most successful techprenuer

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AFRICA

Redefining Connectivity in Africa CEO, Van den Driessche speaks to spacewatchafrica

Special report on Satellite Industry’s Africa’s Digital Space race: role in the framework Migration journey Is Uhuru Kenyatta of sustainable SpacePorts race Special report on Satellite industry’s Is Uhuru Kenyatta Africa’s Digital and experience ready? development goals role in the framework Dready?eploying IntegraMigrationted I?T sjourneyolution s ofof rs tuhseta pinoarbtles system and experience development goals

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CONTENTS Vol. 6, No. 4

Nigeria hosts prestigious African Space Generation Workshop 4 Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald Ghana goes paperless 5 SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey Head, Application Services M. Yakubu NigComSat hands last mile services Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel to channel partners 6 Usman Bello Redefining rural connectivity across Africa 9 Alozie Nwankwo Juliet Nnamdi Africa’s most successful techprenuer 15 Client Relations Sunday Tache Lookman Bello Race to space: Is Uhuru Kenyatta ready? 18 Safiya Thani Marketing Offy Pat Digital Migration: A survey of Africa’s Tunde Nathaniel journey and experience 20 Wasiu Olatunde Satellite Industry’s role in the framework of Media Relations Favour Madu sustainable development goals 24 Khadijat Yakubu Zacheous Felicia Space missions and instruments 27 Finance Folarin Tunde

Nigeria’s flourishing video market 28 Space Watch Magazine is a publication of Lake Chad: Sectarian crisis poses food insecurity challenges 31 Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, GF 11, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

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1 African report

Akure Oleyemekun Source: Toyosin Farida Kekere Ekun Nigeria hosts prestigious African Space Generation Workshop

The Federal University of Technology, making statements and presentations on cultural barriers facing space science Akure (FUTA) is set to host the African the various work that SGAC's network uptake in the Continent. Space Generation Workshop. The produces throughout the year. At the end of the conference, SGAC event coming up for the first time in hopes that the network between African Africa, will take place in November, at Mr. Temidayo Isaiah serves as one of students and young professionals will be the University campus hosted by the SGAC's regional coordinators for Africa. He strengthened. Mr. Abraham Tobilola is University's Centre for Space says, “Our aim is to bring together about serving as the event manager for the Research and Applications (CESRA). 100 top African delegates between 18 and workshop. 35 years old, focusing on university The event is organized by Space students (BSc, MSc, PhD students) and He says, “We want a new frontier for this Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) young professionals working in the African continent in the space sector, we want to and will draw students and young space sector. The workshop aims to launch our own satellite and put a man in space professionals from all parts of strengthen the regional network of the space from our continent, our young Africa. The Space Generation students and young professionals in the professionals can make that happen if we Advisory Council (SGAC) is a global African region. give them the right support''. non-governmental organization and network, which aims to represent The workshop will also examine and Recently, the Federal University of university students and young space consider key questions in Africa region that Technology, Akure,Nigeria announced professionals to the United Nations, the regional space community is facing and that it has launched a satellite into space space agencies, industry and to provide inputs from the next generation in partnership with other local and academia. of the space professionals. With this, the international organizations and workshop will allow tomorrow's space countries. The Nigerian CubeSat, code SGAC was established as one of the sector leaders in the Africa region to have name NigeriaEduSat-1 was designed, recommendations of the Third United the opportunity to interact with today's built and owned by the Federal University N a t i o n s C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e space leaders and professionals in the of Technology, Akure in collaboration with Exploration and Peaceful Uses of region. the National Space Research and Outer Space (UNISPACE III) held in Development Agency, NASRDA, and Vienna in 1999. SGAC has With the event having high-profile experts Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan. Permanent Observer Status in the on space science and technology, there will United Nations Committee on be 4 working group agenda. Participants The CubeSat was launched at the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UN will be treated to interesting discussions on International Space Station where the COPUOS) and regularly present at its Africa's quest in becoming a reckoning satellite was deployed into lower orbit. It is annual meeting and its two force in the global space arena. The role of the first ever University satellite to be subcommittee's meetings. SGAC has African young females in space will not be launched in Nigeria, according to the been contributing to the discussion by left behind, as the attendees will discuss University.

2 ICTICT Business Business

Ghana goes paperless

In West Africa, Ghana has become a shining example of how the introduction the process flow, look at the integration the age long issue of delays and high of modern ICT to customs procedures points, look at the data elements that cost of doing business in the ports. and processes can dramatically improve each party needs and then make sure '' It's about compliance. If from day one a customs regime's capabilities. Even that all the systems come together'' she the importer and the agents put in without a comprehensive reform in both opined. compliant documents, then customs will revenue collection and cargo clearance According her places where there are no ensure that those documents sail simply by introducing a single window existing systems, it will imperative to through because there will be no platform. In 2004, average clearance introduce new systems there so that the anomalies. But you need third party data times at Kotoka International Airport country can realise a true paperless sources like the manifest or the export (KIA) had dropped from three days to regime. Ms. Mintah further noted that this data from the exporting country to check four hours, while most customs will cover the areas of import, export and to see if indeed what is being presented document review, which had taken up to transit trade. is correct. 24 hours before Ghana Community And that is where you can have delays Network, were taking just minutes. Incentivising compliant so it starts with compliance. If we can shippers have a good compliance base, then you In the late 1990s Ghana launched a new know that say 80% or 90% of your export promotion strategy. At its centre Ms. Mintah called for measures to be put in place to incentivise compliant shippers importers or exporters are compliant were operational changes implemented and then you can focus on the 10 or 20% by Ghanaian customs, but it was who play by the rules and ensure that they submit genuine and accurate that are not compliant but push to try and spearheaded by the ministry of trade get them to be compliant as well'' she and industry. Using a platform called documents and information for processing. intimated TrdaeNet, MTI created a community- Madam Mintah also stressed the need to based EDI trader system which, when According to her, there is the need for some amount of predictability in the engage such intransigent traders to find combined with a customs management out whether they truly and genuinely software, became Ghana community system and that compliant shippers must be given some preferential treatment in have challenges or they are shying away network. A public-private partnership from high duties and taxes. was created to implement the change to terms of expediting the clearance of their cargo quickly. a single window system, operating According to her if the challenge has to initially under a service contract. ''According to Valentina, there is need for do with high duties and taxes, then it will predictability in the system. So if I am a be imperative to have a policy decision Recently, the Chief Executive Officer of to look at how to harmonise and improve WestBlue Consulting, technical partners compliant trader, I need to know that when I bring in my goods it can actually the tax or duty rates. She sums it up by of the Customs Division of the Ghana noting that the issues are policy, Revenue Authority, Ms. Valentina be expedited and I don't need to queue up with all the bad guys to go through the technical and human in nature and must Mintah is confident Ghana will meet the be addressed. timelines for going paperless. Vice system'' she noted. president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at She explained that the Authorised the recently held port efficiency Economic Operator of the World conference at the instance of his office Customs Organisation (WCO) indicated the quest of government to see paves way or gives the leeway to a 100 percent migration to paperless traders who are compliant to have transactions in the ports of Ghana by their goods moved directly to their September 2017 homes and follow up inspections, if necessary can be done at the This he believes will ensure the trader or shippers' premises. elimination of corrupt practices and also That system she pointed out is inject some amount of efficiency in the akin to the gold card that Ghana clearance process and port operations has. This plus other incentives in general. including the granting of rebates, Speaking in an exclusive interview with which is at the policy level she the M&TD, Ms. Mintah was optimistic believes will ensure that traders that the time lines will be met. strive to play by the rules by doing the right and proper things. ''I believe we can meet the timeline with the condition that existing systems must Over invoicing and under integrate and existing systems must declaration share their data on a-need-to-know Ms. Mintah also reiterated the call basis with the agencies that require it or for shippers and traders to be the entities that require it. I believe we compliant at all times and avoid can certainly do that but we need that the illegal acts of under invoicing, political will which has been established mis-discription and under with the vice president. So now from a declaration among others which technical and a functional point of view, she argues tend to make the Valentina Mintah we all have to sit down and understand system slow and comes alongwith CEO, Westblue

3 Satellite Business NigComSat hands last mile services to channel partners

Today, “the rules and procedures that expressed optimism, thanked the partnership. make up the world of satellite visiting business leaders for honouring While highlighting the benefits of the communications are in the midst of the Company's invitation to parley with partnership, he reiterated the roles the change.” the corporation despite tight schedules. resellers are expected to play which The rules that worked for the satellite She urged them to take advantage of include branding of their services towards i n d u s t r y i n t h e p a s t w h e n any information generated at the forum the end-user market, marketing and telecommunications was squarely in the and to express their views and sales, operation of outlets, purchase and hands of government are not the rules experiences on the products and provision of logistics for end-user that affect productivity today. Industry services of the Company. equipment and support for CPE regulators are playing strong and According to Abimbola, “We need to installation. “On our part, NigComSat decisive roles to shape the future of collectively address issues as they would sell the required dedicated satellite communications. Like in any concern our relationship and capacity, manage profiles, provide and other sector, once the rules of operation partnership so as to find a common operate the infrastructure and the have changed, new tactics are needed to position. She said,. 'This is teamwork, technical support required,” he added. be effective. But how is the current we provide the satellite capacity, while regulatory framework helping to extend Participants at the forum discussed the you as the last mile providers deliver issues of carrier Spectrum Management the reach of satellite communications services to end users. As an throughout the continent? and how broadband has become the organization, we can work around your driving force for growth. They agreed that The Nigerian Communications Satellite requirements. This forum is interactive, Nigeria has the product, market and Limited, Africa's satellite operator, has with the intent to proffer solutions.” people to grow in the ICT world, and there held its 3rd interactive forum with is a need for aggressive marketing like channel partners and potential resellers what is obtainable in other countries. at the corporation’s sprawling ground Similarly, NigComSat's General station recently. According to Manager, Business and Marketing, NigComSat, the aim of the forum was to Engineer Shehu Kaura, appreciated D u r i n g t h e f o r u m , N i g C o m S a t discuss the business and other areas of the resellers and the Internet Service management also confirmed its mutual benefits to existing partnerships. Providers (ISPs) for their commitment awareness of industry challenges to the corporation, while stating that In her welcome address, the Managing particularly interference, service NigComSat's journey to success is availability, interruption, affirming its Director and Chief Executive Officer of being made possible with the the corporation, Abimbola Alale resolve to tackling them, while introducing

4 new ways of providing seamless services. Network Solutions Ltd, CBS Netcomms, aboard a Chinese carrier rocket, from The Company also assured the partners Qitech Tech Ltd, Safe Alloys Engineering the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in to expect more support and innovation Technology Ltd, Hakonix Tech Ltd, Tes China. The spacecraft was operated by and above all, a high return on Oceanic Ltd, Dotmac Technologies, Max Nigerian Communications Satellite investment. and West Ltd, Clear Sky Broadband, Limited (NigComSat) and the Nigerian Space Agency, NASRDA. NigComSat also used the forum to Trefoil Networks Ltd, Dulmoh Global Mega Ltd, Interweb Satcom Ltd, Trinitas On 10th November 2008 (0900 GMT), introduce its Direct-to-Home (DTH) the NigComSat-1 was reportedly Platform, urging the resellers to venture Apo Ltd, Telserve Ltd, Keymay ICT Ltd, Dynafleu Technologies Ltd, Interweb switched off for analysis and also to into the installation and distribution of set- avoid a possible collision with other top boxes for the reception of Radio and Satcom Ltd, Kingstar Techsupport Ltd were all in attendance. satellites in space. According to Nigerian Te l e v i s i o n T r a n s m i s s i o n s o n Communications Satellite Limited, it NIGCOMSAT satellites. The Nigerian Communications Satellite was put into "emergency mode However, responding, the Resellers Limited, NigComSat is a Special Purpose operation in order to effect mitigation called on NigComSat to ensure that this Vehicle (SPV), incorporated as a state and repairs". The satellite eventually interactive sessions are continuous and owned enterprise, fully funded and owned failed after losing power on 11th sustained. At the end of the session, there by the Federal Government of Nigeria to November 2008. was a raffle draw. The 3rd place winner, commercialise the delivery of services The Federal Ministry of Science and Rhino Networks Solutions, took home a using communication satellites. Technology, NigComSat Ltd and Ka-Band Infrastructure with 15GB NigComSat Limited is currently being CGWIC (China Great Wall Industry capacity and 2-month free subscription. supervised by the newly created Ministry Corporation)on 24th March 2009, The 2nd place winner, Content Oasis of communications Technology and signed a further contract for the in-orbit received a similar facility with a 4-month regulated by Nigerian Communication delivery of the NigComSat-1R satellite. subscription; whilst the overall winner, Commission (NCC) and National NigComSat-1R was also a DFH-4 Brave Technologies won the Ka-Band Broadcasting Commission (NBC). satellite, and was delivered in the fourth installation kit with a 6-month In 2004, it ordered and built her first quarter of 2011 as a replacement for the subscription. Representatives from communication satellite, NigComSat-1 in failed NigComSat-1.A new Nigerian NigComSat Channel partners such as China, as the Nigeria's second satellite communications satellite (NigComSat- Content Oasis Ltd, Brave Technologies and Africa's first communication satellite. 1R) was launched into orbit by Nigeria in Ltd, De Bluefloat Ventures, Rhino It was launched on 13th May 2007, Xichang, China on 19th December 2011with no cost to Nigeria.

Network News INTERRA NETWORKS' contact center solutions Interra networks, a leading provider of are constrained by infrastructure upgrade dialling, with many in use at once, the job Information and Communications costs, others simply lack the know-how can be far more complicated. Agents often Technology solutions for the private and regarding modern contact center find it tricky to tackle the maze of different public sector in Africa is offering her infrastructure or they find the recent systems which has detrimental effects on clients an advanced contact centre technology advancements overwhelming to their work.” s o l u t i o n , t o i n c r e a s e c u s t o m e r adapt but interra networks offer the best First-call resolution can be regarded as an satisfaction, improve productivity and services in compliance with up to date important facet for achieving customer serve a connected customer in a infrastructures and capable know how in satisfaction in the call centre; there is a multichannel way. carrying out our services with excellence. saying 'first impression matters' However, According to the company, the way as today's customers tend to call in with businesses communicate has changed Globally, contact centres are increasingly increasingly complex queries, it isn't always massively over the past 20 years. Today, becoming the cornerstones in customer possible to provide an immediate answer. consumers don't just use the phone to get relationships and customer experience and If callers end up having to speak to several their message across; they make optimization management. Their task of agents regarding a single enquiry, the themselves heard through email, text and providing customer service remains customer experience becomes diluted and social media channels such as essential in that evolution. in a lot cases dissatisfied which may present Facebook, Twitter, Skype, among others. a bad image of the company and put them at However, some organizations are yet to see risk of losing sales. Because consumers are using these the need why they have to pay so much INTERRA NETWORKS can provide its mediums to communicate in their attention to the contact centre of the clients with all the desired features of a personal lives, it is inevitable that they organization forgetting that the image of the contact center service from her state of the now expect to be able to conduct their company can go a long way in getting and art facility, guaranteeing quick time to business interactions in the same way. keeping a customer. service, scalability, reduced risk, reduced The problem, of course is that call centres cost, multilingual capabilities and security. struggle to keep up. They have difficulties ,,, Alternatively, it deploys sustainable and identifying which channels they should Today's contact centres are awash with unmatched contact center solutions at focus on and often don't have the people software, ranging from predictive diallers, clients' facility in line with its unique resource available to manage the C R M d a t a b a s e s a n d w o r k f o r c e requirements as well as the right technical different channels effectively. management tools, through to sales order support. processing platforms, several applications In this 21 century, communication and automated voice response systems. However, INTERRA NETWORKS' can also technology has improved by leaps and With a variety of different software's and offer clients cloud facilities to run its contact bounds. However, a number of contact packages to work with, contact centre center from anywhere in the world with an centers continue to use legacy agents can be working with more than ten internet connection. With this model, agents infrastructure thereby resulting in poor different software systems. Though, each can be at the office or at home, spread call quality and a below par customer application is designed to perform a specific across any geography. experience. While some organizations task such as data capture or outbound

5 Joyne selects Intelsat for new payTV targeting Dutch homes

Joyne, a new multi-channel TV venture and dishes starting from 45cm. They will centre of our ambition it is a logical choice to for Dutch viewers and Dutch's also be able to tap into content at adjacent select Eutelsat as our satellite platform and recreational market, has selected the video neighbourhoods. we look forward to a long cooperation.” EUTELSAT 9B satellite as its platform to reach viewers in the Netherlands and across Europe. Joyne has signed a The monthly subscription option, which Michel Azibert, Chief Commercial and multi-year, multi-transponder contract gives subscribers access to the full suite Development Officer of Eutelsat, added: with Eutelsat Communications, using of Joyne programming, will be available “This new contract with Joyne on Eutelsat's Paris-Rambouillet teleport for from €13 per month. Joyne's competitive EUTELSAT 9B reflects the efficiency of uplink services. proposition is also based on flexible short- satellites for targeting language term subscriptions, from one month, for communities and for extending access to Dutch viewers with second homes and premium pay-TV content for the many The new platform will begin with a mobile homes as well as special offers for viewers who want short-term seasonal diverse mix of pay and free-to-air public spaces in camping sites and bars. solutions. channels with a strong accent on sport. It will feature 30 well-known Dutch and Hans Brunas, CEO of Joyne, said, “The It marks the first step in a partnership with a international channel brands including new Joyne brand stands for connection new European player that places Fox Sports HD channels and Discovery and the pleasure afforded by quality exceptional flexibility at its core. Networks Benelux. Using the powerful entertainment. Our new proposition will pan-European beam on EUTELSAT 9B be distinctive for TV quality, broad viewers will be able to receive the DTH reception across Europe and flexibility in service with Conax Contego Cam cards subscriptions. With these criteria at the

Speakers announced for IBC Cyber Security forum

Ahead of this year's edition of its event, to manage, comprehensive monitoring entertainment and technology show. organizers IBC has announced that the and analysis of network and device B r i n g i n g t o g e t h e r o v e r 5 5 , 0 0 0 invitation-only event that will be held on behaviour alongside well practiced professionals from over 170 countries Friday 15th September to allow incident playbooks are critical to the across broadcasting, cloud, mobile, businesses to gain the latest insights defense of any broadcast company.” telecoms, social networking, OTT, AR and into the threat posed from cyber VR IBC creates the ideal environment to attacks, including the most common network and debate the best way to risks and how to mitigate them. In The Cyber Security Forum, scheduled deliver the future of content production, addition, delegates will also learn how for upcoming IBC, and sponsored by management, delivery and consumption. adopting a good cyber security policy Akamai Technologies, Fortium It also showcases some of the world's can offer competitive advantages in the Technologies and Microsoft, will bring latest innovations in media technology. marketplace. together Chief Technology Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief IBC enables visitors to not only see the Information Security Officers and Chief latest media technology, but also to touch, Key speakers at the event include Digital Officers within media and test, compare and place orders. It's where Elaine Bucknor, Sky's Group Director, broadcasting to have a candid business is done. It attracts over 1,700 Strategy, Security & Governance, Jeff conversation with open floor debates exhibitors from all around the world and Kember, Google, Technical Director and networking sessions. more than 1,000 of the world's top media Media, News Corp's Latha Maripuri, technology journalists. Global CISO & Deputy CTO, Paul These delegates will also receive a Lynch, Director, ITV's Technology complimentary Platinum Pass to the The flagship IBC Conference features a M a n a g e m e n t Offi c e , A n d r e a s IBC Conference and Exhibition with curated programme including over 400 of Schneider, CISO – SRG/SSR and access to numerous benefits, which the world's leading industry influencers Steve Fridakisi, Vice President Media & include accommodation in a 4* Hotel in and experts providing an authoritative and Tech Operations at HBO. the City of Amsterdam, complimentary airport 'Meet and Greet' service on independent view and helping to shape arrival and transfer to your hotel or the the future of the industry. Paul Lynch, Director of The Technology RAI, exclusive VIP networking drinks IBC is hosted in the heart of Europe's Management Office, ITV Plc comments reception and private exhibition tour. startup technology scene in Amsterdam on this important issue; “With such a from 14 – 19 September. IBC is the world's leading media, broad range of risks and vulnerabilities

6 Satcom News

Intelsat, BcoM and Newtec launches One Mobile Reach Solar 2G Service for Africa Wireless Network

Intelsat has recently announced a Mobile Reach Solar 2G was developed example of Intelsat EpicNG expanding the managed services solution that will specifically for MNOs to be able to market for satellite-based solutions.” extend their coverage to serve these provide 2G services in remote “Our goal is to design a solution that is populations with a cost-effective, easily locations. The solution leverages easy to deploy, that fits each community deployable and efficient cell site that is contributions of services provider with basic 2G GSM services and cover a solar-powered. BCom and technology provider larger area or population in a very cost- Newtec for core components of the The managed service, which will be effective way based on a pay-as-you-grow solution. marketed by Intelsat initially in the sub- model,” said Patrick Elias, Sales & IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 2G is Saharan Africa region, integrates Operations Director at BCom, a satellite a turnkey package designed for mobile satellite services from Intelsat's services provider and solution designer. network operators (MNOs) seeking to globalized network with Newtec's “With each community having its own ® expand voice services in a simple, advanced Newtec Dialog multiservice specificity in terms of landscape and cost-efficient manner to remote platform, and BCom's backhaul terminal population density, the BCom backhaul populations throughout sub-Saharan solution and network deployment terminal solution is designed to be flexible, Africa. The solution includes all expertise. Through this partnership, scalable and resilient. The performance of satellite, cellular and power IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 2G Intelsat EpicNG and the Newtec platform to components, allowing MNOs to deploy delivers a product that can be rapidly lower the operational costs requires a and connect with their subscribers deployed and is easily scalable to serve highly competitive backhaul terminal to virtually anywhere. regions and populations of all sizes. offer a turnkey solution that fits remote While some countries and regions are “Satellite is fundamental to improving communities' challenges.” transitioning to 4G and even looking at connectivity coverage in rural areas, “Assembling a turnkey solution was 5G, it is important to remember that 4 especially relevant for the African essential for rapidly deploying managed billion people throughout the world are continent,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, mobile services in Africa where so many without Internet connectivity. 2G still Intelsat' Vice President and General communities are isolated,” said Semir represents a large amount of existing Manager, Broadband. “Now that smaller, Hassanaly, Market Director, Cellular wireless infrastructure. In Africa, more more portable kits can be used with our Backhaul & Trunking, at Newtec, a than 672 million people rely on 2G high power Intelsat EpicNG platform, specialist in designing, developing and services, and those networks need to connecting those communities will manufacturing equipment and be upgraded and expanded to meet become easier and more cost-effective. technologies for satellite communications. growing connectivity demands The experience of implementing HTS “The combination of HTS and the Newtec throughout the continent. into our customers' networks has Dialog platform – with its unique, dynamic affirmed our beliefs about its potential, ® Further, fully half of the continent is Mx-DMA technology – provides the and in every region, Intelsat is focused unconnected, resulting in a dire need flexibility and the lowest operational costs on making access to satellite solutions to provide a connectivity solution to to make mobile connectivity affordable easier than ever for commercial regions not served by current mobile even for remote communities. The connectivity providers. This is another network service territories. IntelsatOne technology can also be upgraded to offer higher order services.”

DTH BERBERE TV Channels on Arabsat at 26°East

Arabsat has announced the joining of c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h h i g h q u a l i t y Saadi, CEO and founder of Berbere BERBERE TV , the window to Berber entertainment content that adheres to our Television Group. cultural world and a leading North cultural and social values , and we are African commercial broadcaster to the happy to welcome Berbere TV channels fast growing premium Satellite TV and radio on board which shall be a great ARABSAT was established under Arab Platform “Maghreb Bouquet” on Arabsat addition to our neighborhood» declared League jurisdiction and entrusted with BADR-5 Satellite. Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of serving the information, cultural and educational needs of its members. The BADR-5 Maghreb Bouquet will ARABSAT. broadcast BERBERE TV, BERBERE After seventeen years of existence and a After a failed launching attempt by a French JEUNESSE and BERBERE MUSIC in presence on all ADSL networks and cable Ariane rocket led to the loss of the first addition to satellite radio channels networks in France, in Canada on BELL satellite 1-A, the U.S. space shuttle Berbère Radio and Antinéa Radio to the FIBE, and around the world via the Discovery successfully launched a second Maghreb communities. With this new brtvconnect.com platform, Berbère satellite, 1-B in 1985 (Amin & Boyd, 1994). phase of expansion on Arabsat BADR-5 Télévision is continuing its expansion. ARABSAT 1-A and 1-B were switched off in Maghreb Bouquet, BERBERE TV is 1992 and 1993 respectively. I am delighted to announce that Berbère delivering on its vision of reaching all Télévision, Berbère Jeunesse, Berbère ARABSAT launched its second generation homes in Maghreb Countries with its Music and our two Radios Berbère Radio satellites 2-A and 2-B, 1996. These culturally rich and entertaining TV & and Antinéa Radio are joing the growing Radio programming. “ geostationary, high-power satellites carry a 26°E neighborhood to increase our Arabsat is committed to continue its visibility in North Africa. This will meet the total of 34 active transponders. efforts to partner with premium growing demand of viewers in this region broadcasters to provide to Arab for our programs » declared Mohammed

7 Satcom Business Intelsat appoints managers to advance broadband, mobility and media business

Intelsat, has announced three new a team responsible for strategy and new the satellite industry, 14 years of which leadership appointments expected to product and service development for the were spent at Intelsat in a variety of sales drive product development, innovation global mobility sector, including leadership positions. He most recently and growth for the organization and its expansion of the new IntelsatOne Flex served as Intelsat's Vice President, customers. Under the new structure, Maritime and Aeronautic managed EMEA, where he was responsible for Jean-Philippe Gillet will lead the services. Mr. Rasmussen's team will also leading the company's sales effort in Broadband business, Mark Rasmussen develop innovative solutions to support Europe, the Middle East and Africa. will head the Mobility business and emerging technology markets such as Robert Cerbone joins the company as the connected car and Internet of Things. Intelsat's Media Services business the head of the Media Services Mr. Rasmussen has more than 18 years serves customers in the content business. of experience in enterprise network distribution and direct-to-home video solutions, including mobility, serving in a sector. In his new role, Robert Cerbone “This change to our leadership structure variety of sales and marketing leadership will be responsible for the development of is a reflection of the dynamic evolution positions. His most recent role was Vice Intelsat's linear and non-linear media currently taking place in the President, Americas, where he led all strategy, new product and service telecommunications landscape,” said sales activity related to Intelsat's Media development, and leading Intelsat's Kurt Riegelman, Intelsat's Senior Vice and Network Services organizations media initiatives worldwide. Mr. President, Sales & Marketing. “Our throughout the Americas. Cerbone's team will develop innovative customers require transformative solutions for the complex challenges technology to solve their challenges and Intelsat's Broadband business serves facing media customers today, including ubiquitous, reliable connectivity that is customers in the wireless and enterprise streamlining distribution across various accessible anytime and anywhere. Our sectors. In his new role, Jean-Philippe global platforms to drive new new organizational structure, aligned Gillet will lead a team responsible for opportunities, as well as new services more closely to the major customer sets strategy and new product and service enhancing cost efficiency, distribution served by our business, meets those deployment, including those built upon quality and reliability. Mr. Cerbone joins NG needs while bringing new agility to our Intelsat's award winning Intelsat Epic Intelsat from Time Warner Cable (TWC), market presence, greater innovations high throughput satellite platform. Mr. where he held a number of senior and value to our customers, and Gillet's team will also focus on leadership positions. He most recently accelerated growth for our business i n c o r p o r a t i n g n e w e c o s y s t e m served as TWC's Vice President and initiatives.” developments into new applications for General Manager for Wireless Products, customers delivering broadband to where he led a team that was responsible Intelsat's Mobility business provides connect the unconnected, as well as for the strategy, planning, development, satellite services across the maritime, creating a new range of services for deployment and lifecycle management oil and gas, and aeronautics sectors. In multinational corporations requiring for TWC's wireless products and services his new role, Mark Rasmussen will lead globalized networks. Mr. Gillet has more as well as overseeing the company's than 20 years of experience working in relationship with Verizon Wireless. Satcom Business Kratos accepts Advanced Space Radio Monitoring System by Regulatory Authority of Sultanate of Oman management of the satellite RF spectrum over their countries including known and unknown transmissions. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, technology and associated hardware and "Satellite spectrum is a national security Inc. recently announced that The software. ASRMS includes several Kratos asset that can be subject to Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the antennas covering UHF/L/S/C/X/Ku/Ka unauthorized usage, interference and Sultanate of Oman has formally frequency bands, a mobile vehicle other threats," said Eng. Yousuf Al accepted the Advanced Space Radio providing analysis capabilities for both Balushi, Vice President-Spectrum Monitoring System (ASRMS) from earth-to-space and space-to-earth Management Affairs. "The ASRMS will Kratos. The multi-million dollar project signals and an unmanned aerial vehicle enable us to better manage, monitor and started in late 2014 and includes ten (UAV) spectrum analysing solution. geolocate satellite radio frequency years of long-term support services for Kratos' Monics® carrier monitoring, transmissions over the Sultanate with the ASRMS system. satID® geolocation, Compass® network operations automated for MEO and The most advanced system of its kind, m o n i t o r & c o n t r o l ( M & C ) a n d GEO satellites in all bands." ASRMS is a unique satellite monitoring NeuralStar®SQM service management "Systems such as ASRMS are and geolocation solution specifically products are integrated with the becoming increasingly important to developed to help Satellite Frequency Antennas/RF system to provide an end- satellite frequency regulators as multi- Regulators identify authorized and to-end solution that is integrated with beam HTS satellites and LEO satellites unauthorized satellite communication TRA's frequency management system make spectrum more congested, more signals, manage the satellite spectrum that manages all the spectrum licenses. c h a l l e n g i n g t o t r a c k s a t e l l i t e used in their respective countries, and Additionally, Kratos managed the build- communications (SATCOM) signals and provide for improved cooperation with out of the extensive civil works (housing, more critical to the management of the other telecommunications regulatory road access, power, water, etc.) needed spectrum in use in their countries," said agencies. to support the system. Bruno Dupas, President of Kratos Working with TRA, Kratos was With a user friendly graphical interface Integral Systems Europe, which was the responsible for virtually every aspect of based on automated procedures and Kratos operating unit that provided the the system including the core satellite advanced tools, ASRMS eases regulator ASRMS system.

8 The Newtec interview Redefining rural connectivity in Africa

Newtec is today a strategic industry player best positioned to provide satellite broadband equipment to schools and educational institutions in underserved areas across Africa.

Back in 2016, Newtec worked with Liquid Telecom to deploy the first Mx-DMA links in Africa, and has seen successful deployments in industries such as banking and mining.

In addition, the 'One customer – Gem Diamonds' in Botswana – experienced efficiency gains of up to 50%, allowing its Van den Driessche operations to run at higher availability rate while still guaranteeing low jitter and delay. Based on its technological advancements, over three billion people across the world watch television everyday, while its satellite broadband systems help connect people all over the world, no matter how remote the location. Newtec is headquartered in Sint- Niklaas, Belgium, and has an extensive network of more than 100 certified partners, as well as commercial offices in Africa, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing, Sao Paulo and Stamford.

Over the past 15 years, Thomas Van den Driessche has been active in the broadcast and satellite industry, and was at various times Sales and Business Development Director Europe, VP Market Strategy and Chief Commercial Officer at Newtec. In January 2017, Thomas was appointed the CEO of Newtec.

SWA: The widespread success particularly proud to be involved in is Education is not the only sector that has of VSAT platforms in education Avanti Communications'Every Child benefited from Newtec Dialog. Newtec particularly Newtec Dialog® Online (ECO) initiative. Newtec provides has also recently worked alongside the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Intelsat to deliver managed services use via satellite has become a ground segment technology platform for solution that will provide 2G services in key project in Africa. Do you the project, which will provide affordable remote locations using the platform. have ongoing programs in and reliable satellite broadband more countries in the regions connectivity to thousands of schools and With more than 672 million people in community sites across Sub-Saharan Africa relying on 2G services, it is vital and how would you evaluate its Africa over the next two years. that these networks are upgraded and impact so far? expanded to meet growing connectivity VdN: Newtec provides satellite demands throughout the continent. broadband equipment to schools and “Affordability is educational institutions in a number of naturally a key concern SWA: With the number of underserved areas across Africa, reaching areas where terrestrial in all markets, and HTSs continuing to grow, broadband networks are either Newtec's technologies bringing benefits such as impractical or not financially viable. lower costs and greater for SMBs are developed reliability, what type of One ongoing project that we are with this in mind”. products and technology

9 solutions do you see leading This deployment is indicative of the of the continent. Being connected to the the industry in the African and changing nature of mobile connectivity in Internet vastly improves the knowledge the region, as it is set up to eventually and skills base of users, providing Middle East region? provide 3G/4G services to areas advantages that previous generations underserved by terrestrial networks. may not have had. We want to be able to VdN: As the availability of HTS ensure that users in remote, rural areas technology increases and operators are The key requirement for operators and have the same opportunities that are given added agility, there is likely to be a service providers for all of these available in more developed regions and shift towards multiservice solutions and applications get the maximum amount of communities. platforms. This will enable operators to capacity from the space segment, which expand their service portfolios and is where the ground-breaking efficiency move their offerings to wider, less- of Newtec's technologies can deliver traditional markets. “It is clear that great availability and reliability at low cost. High Throughput We also expect to see an increase in the Satellites (HTS) viability of community Wi-Fi solutions, SWA: Did you see anything which are already being used in the are transforming ECO project. The benefits this type of interesting or exciting in the solution can provide aren't just in the African Market? the way data education sector - they can also provide transmission is done new business models, such as Internet VdN: The African market is incredibly provision on an access voucher basis or exciting due to its almost unrivalled over satellite” on an as-a-service basis sold by local potential for development. With so many shops. emerging technologies reaching new markets across the continent, it is a really This not only benefits business owners interesting time to be involved in the SWA: Is Newtec technologies who have a new revenue stream but connectivity industry, and satellite is trying to provide new and also end-users, who can receive playing a big role in these developments. affordable services to support Internet access without the need for up- SMBs in Africa? front investment in home VSAT equipment. “Our Mx-DMA™ return VdN: Affordability is naturally a key While a satellite Wi-Fi hotspot solution is concern in all markets, and Newtec's slightly more expensive to set-up, the technology technologies for SMBs are developed large number of end-users it can reach available on Newtec with this in mind. One example of this is means the Total Cost of Ownership per Mx-DMA®, a bandwidth technology that user represents just a fraction of the cost Dialog, is truly combines the best of SCPC and TDMA to when compared to a traditional-single groundbreaking in efficiently deliver on-demand variable bandwidth allocation. user VSAT terminal. that it combines the S W A : W h a t t y p e s o f dynamic bandwidth “It is clear that customers are interested in allocation capabilities High Throughput Newtec's solutions in Africa and Middle East Market? of (MF-)TDMA and Satellites (HTS) efficiency of SCPC” are transforming V d N : T r a d i t i o n a l b r o a d b a n d the way data c o n n e c t i v i t y f o r r e m o t e a n d underserved areas has been a key One example of this is that traditionally transmission is done component of Newtec's offering for under-served countries and regions over satellite”. some time, but there is a growing shift across the continent are seeing huge towards enterprise applications within growth in the sales of smartphones and The results of this can mean significant sectors such as the banking industry, tablet PCs, which goes against the global bandwidth efficiency gains, resulting in where broadband connectivity is trend which shows smartphone sales are cost savings. Newtec worked with Liquid required for ATMs. decreasing. Telecom to deploy the first Mx-DMA links There are now more than 200 million in Africa back in 2016 and has seen “The African market devices with the ability to connect to the successful deployments in industries Internet through Wi-Fi in Africa. This such as banking and mining. One is incredibly exciting figure is expected to grow to 500 million customer – Gem Diamonds in Botswana by 2020, despite the fact thatmany areas – experienced efficiency gains of up to due to its almost are not yet covered by Internet 50%, allowing its operations to run at unrivalled potential connectivity. This presents huge potential higher availability rate while still for satellite operators, who can deliver guaranteeing low jitter and delay. for development”. that connectivity in was that terrestrial infrastructure simply can't. This deployment provided a model for Cellular backhaul is a growing market, Mx-DMA in Africa, meaning the service and Newtec has recently worked with Newtec's aim for Africaisto ensure people can now be used across the continent. GLOBAL Technologies toprovide are connected, which is essential for the c e l l u l a r b a c k h a u l f o r M a t t e l , economic and educational development www.newtec.eu Mauritania's leading mobile operator,

10

Satellite news Eutelsat delivers IP content to mobile devices via satellite

Smartphones and tablets play an ever- of local internet connection speeds or partner technologies. Based on more central role in our daily lives, audio- network congestion. SmartBEAM standard internet technologies and visual consumption trends evolve. offers the same experience to users protocols, SmartBEAM is compatible Portable devices are increasingly used to located beyond range of terrestrial with all common mobile devices as well watch video content on the move, with networks, circumventing user as Smart TVs. Live channels and on- users demanding high quality, on smaller frustration with re-buffering when demand content are encoded in H264 screens. terrestrial networks saturate. and packaged with any internet streaming protocol (HLS, MPEGDash, Eutelsat's SmartBEAM is a multi-screen TV operator distribution costs remain Smooth Streaming, etc). They are delivery solution which addresses the stable even as service usage transmitted via Eutelsat satellites in IP- growing number of IP-native screens, increases. End-users can enjoy multicast over a standard DVB-S2 while leveraging all the advantages of unlimited streaming time, irrespective transmission. satellite broadcast to offer rich video of their monthly mobile data plan. content and a high-quality user Broadcasting IP-streams also On the receive side, a compact low-cost experience. With SmartBEAM, TV simplifies satellite distribution by satellite box with embedded IP multicast operators can broadcast video content in delivering the relevant video format capabilities, connected to a regular IP format via satellite, creating a network and content protection (DRM) to IP- satellite dish, acts as a local Content dedicated to all IP-native devices such as native devices. The solution can run on Delivery Network. tablets and smartphones. The solution low-cost satellite boxes, or even on can be deployed at home as well as in already-deployed set-top-boxes via a It receives the satellite signal, extracts public venues, such as bars, restaurants, software upgrade. It can also be easily the relevant IP streams and serves hotels, shopping centres, train stations, integrated with other applications them locally to the mobile devices, over etc. running on the devices. a Wi-Fi network. Live content is served on-the-fly, while on-demand content is By leveraging the inherent strength of How it works stored locally and can be accessed at satellite broadcasting, TV operators can any time by the end-user. The end- provide ubiquitous coverage of their user's device connects to the Wi-Fi audience with a guaranteed quality of Eutelsat's SmartBEAM is the first network and a mobile application is service, and extend their OTT video endto-end platform for IP-multicast used to play the selected content, services across the territory irrespective over satellite, integrating multiple similar to an OTT application. Ericsson reviews business strategy

Ericsson worldwide is set to pursue a more leadership and the group strategy has Digital Services Business Area, focused business strategy to revitalize not yielded expected returns. including cloud based virtualized technology and market leadership, network infrastructure and applications, improve group profitability and enable In our strategy review, he said, 'We have management and monetization customer success. The overall strategy is listened carefully to customers around software (OSS/BSS) and related to enable service providers to expand their the world and made an in-depth services capabilities, the near term business across industries and into new analysis of our portfolio and focus, according to the corporation is profit pools. performance. To enable us to on re-establishing profitability. immediately take action and move with The corporate giant says it will drive the speed in execution we are today As this area is strategically important to development of market-leading solutions, outlining our path to restoring our customers going forward, we will fully leveraging the potential of 5G, IoT and profitability and to lead with innovation also selectively increase our cloud. Restoring profitability is key and its and best in class solutions in areas we investments to enable Ericsson to be beginning to start by focusing the portfolio have decided to focus on.” the partner of choice for our customers to fewer areas and securing effectiveness on their journey to become digital and efficiency in operations. We will Portfolio changes service providers. In addition, it will also increase emphasis on solutions across the The company is currently taking a shift the IoT strategy from a systems- company, combining products and number of steps to focus and strengthen integration-led approach to a platform- services, to drive efficiency and better the core portfolio. First, it will accelerate and solutions-led strategy to better meet customer needs and requirements. and increase investments in key areas leverage our global scale and industry This will also be reflected in a simplified in Networks to support a continued expertise. Lastly, the company will organization. global rollout of 4G and establishing a refocus Managed Services strategy leading position in 5G. with emphasis on automation, fully In parallel, the corporation will also leveraging our global scale and OSS accelerate investments both in R&D and it will also target the Network Rollout capabilities, to provide high-tech services capabilities in selected core areas business on Ericsson's own networks services and cost efficient operations. to ensure that the company can offer its portfolio. Ambition is to optimize the Currently, its giving full attention on customers leading solutions. Börje end-to-end offering to address our turning business around from a Ekholm, Ericsson President and CEO, customers' needs. The work to improve negative result in 2016, addressing low- says: “For some time Ericsson has been profitability in this area will be further performing operations and contracts. challenged on both technology and market sharpened. For the newly created 12 E d i t o r i a l IBC 2017

IP Showcase returns to IBC

IBC is the world's leading media, demonstrations are divided into logical Showcase is dedicated to educating and entertainment and technology show. application pods — live production energising IBC visitors to embrace the Bringing together over 55,000 signal flows, contribution and playout change, plan effectively, and ultimately professionals from over 170 countries signal flows, etc. — all shown under the build a more flexible, more efficient and across broadcasting, cloud, mobile, control of familiar user interfaces. more creative broadcasting industry. telecoms, social networking, OTT, AR and VR IBC creates the ideal IBC enables visitors to not only see the “IBC is excited to be working with our IP environment to network and debate the latest media technology, but also to Showcase Partners once again at best way to deliver the future of content touch, test, compare and place orders. IBC2017,” said Michael Crimp, CEO, production, management, delivery and It's where business is done. It attracts IBC. “The IP Showcase will be an ideal consumption. It also showcases some over 1,700 exhibitors from all around the opportunity for our visitors to see how far of the world's latest innovations in world and more than 1,000 of the world's the IP Interop standard has come since media technology. top media technology journalists. its original demonstration at IBC2016. They will also be able to learn from those The IP Showcase is set to be a major Visitors to the IP Showcase will learn the who have already adopted IP as the destination for visitors to IBC2017 – business, technical, and creative norm” demonstrating to the broadcast and benefits of IP workflows, practical steps media world that real-time IP to take to unlock the benefits of using IP The flagship IBC Conference features a production is a practical, flexible, networks for real-time media, curated programme including over 400 of efficient reality that is rapidly taking knowledge, skills, and resources the world's leading industry influencers hold in mainstream operations. IP is no required, how others are already and experts providing an authoritative longer a “future” — it is here and now. leveraging IP in real-world broadcaster and independent view and helping to The partners behind the IP Showcase - applications, an understanding of the shape the future of the industry. AES, AIMS, AMWA, EBU, IABM, MNA, SMPTE ST 2110 suite of professional IBC is hosted in the heart of Europe's SMPTE, and VSF - have come media over IP networks standards and startup technology scene in Amsterdam together with IBC to deliver a one-stop what the future holds – including NMOS from 14 – 19 September. destination where everyone from IS-05 Connection Management for IP- broadcast/IT engineers and CEOs to based media systems. IBC remains the top industry platform for TV producers can learn everything experts and media managers to share they need to know to unlock the full The integrated IP Showcase theatre, and discuss issues on advanced potential of using IP for real-time curated by IABM, will be running a non- technologies, business challenges, media. stop series of presentations covering the implementation ideas and effective and full gamut of knowledge for real-time IP innovative solutions that are shaping the More than 40 vendors will work production and intra-facility distribution. global broadcast industry. together to demonstrate real-world IP Visitors will hear about the rapidly interoperability based on SMPTE ST increasing number of real-world IP .The event will attract thousands of 2110 final draft standards and AMWA deployments from broadcasters who participants from over 50 countries NMOS specifications — a single set of have already embraced IP signal flows. representing different international common IP interop standards and They will also learn about the business organizations, providing rare opportunity specifications that are unleashing the and creative benefits of IP, and how for the broadcast and media industry flexibility and efficiency of IP in real- these benefits can be applied to their stakeholders to network, share and time media. To prove ease of use as own operations. experience wide-ranging technologies, w e l l a s i n t e r o p e r a b i l i t y, t h e With no direct sales agenda, the IP advanced solutions and innovative ideas.

14 Feature

Africa’s most successful techprenuer

Austin Okere is the Founder and CEO of ComputerWarehouse Group Plc, Africa’s largest Systems Integration Company, reputed for deploying cutting edge Technology solutions that enable the growth of its clients' businesses, operating out of 4 African Countries; Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Cameroun. He was recently appointed the Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, New York. Austin also serves on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship, and on the Advisory Board of the Global Business School Network of the World Economic Forum.

The common definition of an entrepreneur is a person, who organizes, manages, and takes the risk of running a business or enterprise. Entrepreneurs perform vital function in economic development of a nation. They have been referred to as the human agents needed to mobilize capital, to exploit natural resources, to often develop innovative products or concepts, to create markets and to carry on business.

Entrepreneurial contribution spells the difference between prosperity and poverty among nations. Just as the saying goes, “You must first be a believer, if you want to be an achiever.”

In the realm of entrepreneurship, first, was an obsession with excellence. An Austin Okere, Executive Vice Chairman, CWG Plc entrepreneur often dream and think of excellence not only with the mind but has for sometimes been the factor seen also with the heart and soul. In order to challenges. It is always in ready by many African countries as a major succeed, he looks outside, at the abundance for the one who has set to hindrance to economic development. global standards of excellence in move ahead. CWG Plc has grown 10 The more the entrepreneurship activities, quality, cost and delivery and strive to times both revenue and manpower-wise better the development. surpass them. since its inception. Everywhere, the story of great The availability of abundant natural businesses in the history of world has not Austin Okere started the company in resources, skilled and unskilled labour, been written by wealth but by innovation, September 1992 as Computer and capital has not proven itself enterprising attitude, skill and an ability to Warehouse Limited with only four staff sufficient enough to result in a surge of see beyond the present. Austin Okere members to undertake hardware entrepreneurial zeal among the probably is one such individual, who has projects. people. written his own history by dint of his In Africa, the nexus between courage and never-say-die attitude. Five years later, DCC Networks, the entrepreneurship and economic communications arm of the group was From a computer whiz-kid, he became progress cannot be more clearly and e s t a b l i s h e d t o p r o v i d e V S AT, the CEO of a multinational giant, simply expressed than the statement – Metropolitan, Wide Area and Local area Computer Warehouse Group, CWG, no entrepreneur, no development. The networks to corporate organisations. In where his journey was interspersed with inactivity or scarcity of entrepreneurs 1999, based on the existing demands in

15 the area of software solutions, system shown the world it is possible to beat companies in the world. He has the and training, ExpertEdge Software the multinationals even in the most determination of an uncannily shrewd was acquired. advanced and difficult market of businessman to be the biggest Information and Communications technology player in the world. Technology industry. Testament to the power of reading, part In pursuit of its Pan-African vision, CWG of Austin's his early inspiration was as a As an entrepreneur, Austin Okere is has established its regional offices in result of his reading of thought writers credited with placing the Computer west, East and central Africa. CWG such as Tom Peters, John Maxwell and Warehouse Group on the international Ghana limited (2003), CWG Uganda Brian Tracey, which he adopted as map. Austin was able to harness a Limited (2010) and CWG Cameroon mentors and borrowed heavily from. team of individualistic executives, Limited (2012) to handle the business capitalizing upon their strengths, interest of these regions. On March 6, Many people tend to prematurely give downplaying their differences and 2012, CWG merged with its three up and throw up their hands in deficiencies; all by the sheer weight of s u b s i d i a r i e s ; C W L S y s t e m s , exasperation when life throws them his leadership. ExpertEdge Software and DCC lemons, he said. I believe that Networks, thereby leaving CWG as the challenges and opportunities are two Few among us have the luxury of only surviving entity within the group and sides of the same coin. That is a pursuing a hobby so seriously that in the subsidiaries becoming divisions. reason why the Chinese use the same the end a mere extension of it will help Since then, the group has evolved into word to describe both, says Austin. us make a living. Austin Okere is such a an IT powerhouse with a focus on rare example. There are no festivities enabling businesses through strategic in his sundry commitment. If he made a From a sole proprietorship, Computer p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h e x c e l l e n t commitment, it has to be fulfilled; no Warehouse Group Plc, now boasts of organizations. matter, whether it's a vendor, customer over 2000 employees - spread in or employees. What stand CWG Plc out among the different specialty areas. It ably caters competition is its excellent IT facilities to diversified business specialties via He is recognized for his personal vision and capabilities as well as strong the arms by the name of CWG Plc. The and leadership in creating CWG, one relationships with global technology Lagos office exemplifies the best of a of the world's leading technology brands and esteemed clientele state of-the-art infrastructural facility spanning over two decades. In recent featuring futuristic readiness interview with local media, Austin towards taming every challenge Okere said “these three factors – from emerging technological facility, capability and relationship – needs, in telecoms, IT and Direct- have given us an edge in providing IT to-Home enterprise. services and support in various At the very beginning, Austin said, industries in our countries of “He had reasoned that founding a operation, especially telecom, oil and company that could be built over gas and banking. “About 50 per cent time to hold her own among any of of mobile calls in Nigeria are routed the global bests was one of the through enterprise servers and most viable ways to achieve my storage managed and supported by goal. I wanted to one day to list us while 40 per cent of Telecoms our shares on the NASDAQ, not Information Systems Managed minding that my friends sniggered Services are also provided by CWG when I shared the dream”. Plc.

He started this corporate journey “Same applies to the banking industry, without a pedigree or money, about 30 per cent of Automated Teller essential ingredients for success Machines' (ATMs) transaction pass in today's business world, making through CWG's Wincor-Nixdorf ATMs it possible for ordinary folks to while about 35 per cent of ATMs dream big. His journey was installed base in Nigeria are supplied p l a y e r s . A u s t i n O k e r e , a n characterized by a constant struggle and supported by CWG,” OA said. between the challenges and the entrepreneur, has made a long-lasting impression abroad and brought glory triumph of willpower; he was left under In addition, 20 per cent of bank branch to the ingenious and astute spirit of no illusion that there is a smooth path transactions on data links were carried contemporary Africa by exploring the or a short cut to success.. o u t t h r o u g h C W G ' s N e t w o r k possibilities of Information and Infrastructure. The vision of the Communication Technology industry. He loves challenges. When faced with company is to be Africa's Number one IT He is a living legend and an epitome of challenge, he seems to get a lot more Platform Service Provider by 2020 by the fact that honesty, transparency, energy and get the thought process in deploying technology solutions that and moral integrity are not at variance place that pushes him forward. His enable growth. business has been about challenges with business acumen. He set new standards in corporate governance from day to day and that is what really In Nigeria, his company, CWG Plc and morality when he stepped down as keeps him going. Some of these may recently became the largest security in the Chief Executive Officer of CWG Plc be frustrating at points, but when he the sector of the Nigerian Stock in his golden age. sits back, looks at the issue, he Exchange (NSE) when she listed her . generally tries and changes that to an shares and went public in 2013. She was He's a tiger with a burning desire to opportunity and refocuses his efforts. subsequently recognized as a global play on the global stage. He wants company by the World Economic Forum Austin Okere, founder and Chief CWG to be among the top ICT Executive Officer, CWG Plc, has I

16 n 2014, signaling an expectation of had to make in my life was leaving the The influencers achieving the $1 billion turnover mark comfort of my job to start the Computer in the not too distant future. Warehouse Group. I was perceived as Though ambitions or compulsions alone one of the upwardly mobile executives in may not make an entrepreneur I n d e e d , t h e b a s i c t e n e t s o f my former company. The company was researchers often agreed on this entrepreneurship entail an effective doing very well and was regarded as one a s s e r t i o n . S o m e t i m e s , t h e and deliberate inner urge to take risk in of the most outstanding IT firms then. I encouragement from family members or terms of uncertainties and an intuition. was well paid and had ample commission his friends and relatives, the experience In short, as an entrepreneur he shows from sales…my life was on a roll! gained in employment, the skills he sagacity to jump into untested waters acquired or inherited, also facilitate the and face the consequences, with a However, Austin Okere possesses an exercise of entrepreneurship. Many strong self conviction that he will unprecedented flair for visioning, strategy factors may have come up in the way of successfully encounter the sharks and and branding. His achievements at Inlaks his starting an industry. befriend the dolphins. and his decision to quit the company and started CWG was a story of vision, In order to succeed, Austin Okere Entrepreneurship is the life blood of foresight and courage. changed his attitude toward uncertainty. any economy and it applies more to a Security can be tough to pass up. He continent like Africa. In the early Of course, ambition is the wrench of all said, “We like the certainty that comes phases of economic development motives. The intentions and initiative of a with being in a stable job, making a entrepreneurs have initiatives to start man are motivated by his ambitions. The steady income. Yet, significance usually new ventures and find innovative ways importance of ambition in life can be calls for risk”. It involves stepping away to start new enterprise. New products, justified by the common saying "aimless from familiar territory in order to explore new techniques and new markets are life is a goalless game." new lands and expanding your influence, found out by innovative entrepreneurs. Sometimes, personal ambitions may especially in today's world where the It is innovative entrepreneurs who built come in the way of achieving national internet, broadband and smartphone t h e m o d e r n c a p i t a l i s m . T h e aspirations. Well conceived notions, ubiquity have made erstwhile impossible enterprising spirit of the innovative careful planning, calculated risk taking, business models, possible; think UBER, entrepreneurs opens new markets and timely decision-making and swift AirBnB and Alibaba. develops enterprises. execution make the ambition meaningful and fruitful and hence the achievement of Again, Austin stopped measuring his If foresightedness and hard work are n a t i o n ' s e c o n o m i c g r o w t h a n d performance solely in terms of two mandatory requirements to be development. immediate results. According to him, to known as a successful individual, excel as a leader, you have to change the Austin has both the pre-requisites When ranked in order of importance, the time frame in which you view success. If aplenty. He built a collective self- ambition of “gaining independent living or you measure your performance solely in confidence, because excellence self-employment” is usually ranked first. terms of immediate results, then you run requires tremendous faith in one's “To make money” received second rank, the risk of giving up when times are ability to do more and in a better way. and to “to gain social prestige” was the tough, as they are now in our country. Unless, we believe we can do better, third ranked ambition. "To fulfill the desire Also, when you only concern yourself we cannot. of myself, my father, my wife" is often with present professional achievement, Austin Okere, founder of Computer ranked fourth ambition. The "other" you tend to lose sight of the long term Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, the ambition ranked fifth which includes the g o a l . Q u o t i n g f r o m W i l l i a m largest Systems Integration Company desire to do something new or creative, Shakespeare, “there is a tide in the in Sub-Saharan Africa & Entrepreneur self- employment to youths. affairs of men, which taken at the flood, in Residence at CBS, New York. He leads on to fortune…On such a full sea serves on the World Economic Forum However, Austin Okere wanted to make are we now afloat. Business Council on Innovation and an impact beyond my immediate family, Entrepreneurship is our Africa's most and beyond my immediate environment. And we must take the current when it successful IT entrepreneur. He said, “I wanted to do something serves, or lose our ventures”. I believe significant . He wanted to leave my that the challenges in Nigeria today also Austin's Entrepreneurial' footprints in the sands of time”. offer ample opportunity to get ahead with creativity and innovation. ambitions He reasoned that founding a company Generally, ambitions motivate men. that could be built over time to hold her Lastly, the encouragement of his family According to a researcher, ambition is own among any of the global bests was has also been very instrumental in the a n i n d e x o f o n e ' s o w n one of the most viable ways to achieve my process of starting his business. He said resourcefulness. It activates men, goal. I wanted to one day to list our shares his wife was shocked when he told her broadens their vision and makes the on the NASDAQ, not minding that my one evening that he would be quitting his life more meaningful. Ambition is not friends sniggered when I shared the job within the week to start a company of something which is akin to greed or dream. his own. Not left out his parents were windfall. Greed results in disaster and beside themselves. They could not windfall makes one a speculator. He said, “I knew I could not achieve any of comprehend what else I was looking for. these if I did not make the sacrifice of Why can't he be content with what others Just like an individual, a nation or a leaving my comfort zone and the security are dying for? They wondered. region may have their own ambitions or it seemed to offer. I understood that to As it is generally, most first generation aspirations which speak of their achieve the growth I desired as a leader, I entrepreneurs usually face strong resourcefulness. Galbraith further would have to make a change. I needed a opposition from their parents as explained that because the people of vehicle that I could be in reasonable occupation pursued by the family so far is African nations are lacking in ambition, control of. That is how Computer different from what is going to be done by they are lagging behind others in Warehouse Group was born. The rest the entrepreneur. Therefore, an attempt development. they say is history. has been made to examine whether Perhaps the most difficult transition I there were any such facilitating factors.

17 Kenyan report

Race to space Is Uhuru Kenyatta ready?

Though wealthier and more stable than most African countries, Kenya is yet to join the space race to address growing challenges of resource management, illiteracy, and lack of economic opportunity for her rural population Like several other African countries, Kenya is sophisticated in geospatial information science and technology. With several well-established universities, particularly Jomo Kenyatta University and the University of Kenya--all with strong academic programs, including geography, the opportunities presented to Kenya through satellite technology are not in question, according to this report

Though wealthier and more stable than throughout the first stages of the 21st organizations. It also acts as most African countries, Kenya is yet to century. Likewise, researchers have headquarters for the UN mission to join the space race to address growing presented convincing arguments over Somalia, which has significantly challenges of resource management, the past two decades as to how ICST will contributed geospatial information use illiteracy, and lack of economic transform countries into 'knowledge in the region. opportunity for her rural population. At economies' and 'network societies'. Nairobi is one of the headquarters for the time of independence in 1963, the However, failure to take these elements the International Livestock Research Government identified illiteracy, into account has led to a classification of Institute, the Regional Centre for disease, ignorance and poverty as the people as 'information rich' and Mapping Resources for Development, main areas to address post- 'information poor', depending on the and the Intergovernmental Group for independence. availability of ICT. African Development's Climate Prediction Center. Kenya also hosts Fifty four years on, the rural Kenyans Kenya also faces a number of significant satellite telemetry tracking facilities for according to report, still constitute environmental challenges. For instance, NASA and a receiving station operated slightly more than half the population. demand for agricultural land by its rural by Italy in Malindi. Kenya is a key Agriculture is the primary economic population creates tension between member of the African Resource activity and tourism and the flower ethnic groups. It also creates tension Constellation satellite program. industry earn Kenya its largest foreign between the agricultural sector and its exchange, accounting for more than 40 primary income earner of tourism. Indeed, the opportunities presented to percent of Gross Domestic Product Increased land pressure has threatened Kenya through satellite technology are (GDP). the biodiversity upon which the tourism not in question. sector depends. Climate change is However, Kenya, like other African increasing the risk of drought and At the moment, Kenya enjoys a countries, needs a complete telecom agricultural uncertainty, as well as the relatively strong capacity in the use of network. The telecom infrastructure potential for climate-related conflict. remotely sensed data. Undoubtedly, the country wide is vastly under-developed Already, significant ethnic conflict exists RCMRD is perhaps one of the strongest with a majority of those in rural areas in pastoral areas and along the data centers in Africa and offers not having access to land-lines. boundaries between sedentary farming analytical as well as training expertise. communities and pastoral communities. In addition, IGAD Climate Prediction By the late 1990s most countries and Applications Centre receives recognised that if telecom sectors were Kenya has several well-established meteorological data through a NASA to be in a position to seize new universities, particularly Jomo Kenyatta link and issues periodic climate t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d s e r v i c e University and the University of Kenya-- analyses largely targeted at the opportunities to address growing all with strong academic programs, agricultural policy community. c h a l l e n g e s o f e d u c a t i o n , including geography. communications, natural resources Similarly, FAO and the USAID-funded management, an understanding of With its central political role in the region, Famine Early Warning Network roles of satellite technology were Kenya hosts several regional and conduct periodic analyses of vegetation deemed essential. international organizations that play data in their food security and hunger major roles in the application of vulnerability assessment in the region. What is particularly evident in the fact geospatial science and technology in the that Information Communication and region. Satellite Technology (ICST), is seen Nairobi is the headquarters for the UN Geospatial Research and b y m a n y c o m m e n t a t o r s a s Environment Program and regional Applications underpinning the social and economic headquarters for the other major UN Like other African countries, Kenya is progression of nation states

18 Kenyan report

specialized training for students. With the also sophisticated in geospatial continent stand to benefit the most from emergence of space agency, geospatial information science and technology. the applications they bring. The approach professionals would evolve channels to Several of her organizations are either may not be a replica of an already keep abreast with changing demands in part of donor groups, or receive established system, such as Iridium or industry and the wider business sector. f u n d i n g f r o m d o n o r s , e i t h e r Globalstar, which has been proven to be government or non-government. out of reach financially for developing Kenya boasts a strong geospatial economies and hope advertising or mass Therefore, if external funding declined community by virtue of it being a hub of production strategies will bring it into the there could be a sudden decline in the regional and international organizations hands of the poor. In contrast, Africa must sophistication of the geospatial involved in environmental and seek to re-engineer system design and science and technology community in humanitarian efforts. The RCMRD, in be committed to bridging the digital divide Nairobi. The presence of international particular, offers considerable capacity to then specific attempts must be made to research centers, such as ILRI and host data and provide training. The launch design for affordability. regional data centers, such as the of Kenyan space agency will enhance RCMRD and ICPAC, has resulted in NSDI development in Kenya. The agency A successful endeavor to achieve this Kenya serving as a hub of modeling can advise the government on geo- goal must seek to quantify the analysis, expertise. information issues, support GIS be methodological and incorporate education, facilitate linkages with people's purchasing power into decisions Regional demand for these modeling international GIS industry, promote GIS on the type of application and its eventual and analytical services is quite high. awareness, and unify the profession. cost. This change in design approach is According to sources inside Kenya, fundamental as the cost to the consumer the United Nations Environment Lessons from Malaysia is the deciding factor in determining Program, UNEP engages a number of The practical value of space technology whether or not the digital divide will ever these institutions to conduct analyses. was illuminated to Mazlan Othman, the be bridged. It is this need to 're-engineer' Further, ILRI has a very strong funding director of the United Nations Office for satellite system design that should drive base and conducts wide-ranging Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in 1997 future development in the industry. analyses with a strong geospatial when forest fires burnt more than 400,000 component. The government has a hectares in Malaysia and Indonesia, relatively robust geospatial capacity, engulfing the entire region for weeks with Currently, the link between the potential particularly in its wildlife and thick, choking clouds of smoke. Although and current reach of communication agricultural divisions. Kenya also satellite imagery was available from technologies is very weak in Africa. The maintains a food security unit closely developed nations, it was expensive and fact is that where there is no existing tied to other regional entities. inadequate to assist her native Malaysia infrastructure, or where other forms of in fighting the forest fires. Othman communication are not economically Data Gaps, Requirements, explains that “we needed satellite photos viable, satellite communications may be and Coordination of hot spots, but the accuracy initially the only time sensitive solution. available was only a resolution of 1 Connectivity using traditional terrestrial kilometer. networks for rural or remote areas is a Kenya's 2002 national development very lengthy and expensive process. plan incorporated an initiative to That was insufficient and satellites with establish a national spatial data better resolution only came over Malaysia infrastructure. Also, there are other The developing world is thus in dire need once every 20 days.” Othman makes the of a medium that can extend access to networks such as the Institution of key observation that “we realized that we Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), and Kenya communications for those in most need could not rely on others for our specific and which is not affected by the country's ESRI (Environmental Systems needs.” Since then, Malaysia has Research Institute) User Group. topology and state of infrastructural championed the development of a layout. regional system of disaster monitoring There is also a need to create the A s t r e n g t h e n e d n e t w o r k o f satellites, a cause the UNOOSA supports. professionals and establishment of regulatory and policy climate that will channels for information exchange is foster the growth of communication Othman states that within Malaysia, while technologies within and across borders. necessary will surely emerge with the enough funds are not being allocated for development of Kenya space agency. At every step of the process there is a research, there are concerted efforts to significant need for consideration to be This networking has previously been improve awareness among the public that fueled by the spatial data infrastructure given to whether or not the system will be if you want to build up the country in a economically viable and sustainable. dialogue. bottom-up approach, space technology must be a part of the solution. A well Also, symbiotic connectivity with PSTN, However, it may be more appropriately informed conclusion is made that driven by a process by which a national fiber optics and other traditional means of developing countries such as Malaysia communications should be the goal of structure of baseline data layers would need to build their own infrastructure (or be established. This could also be satellite communications engineers. This have infrastructure built with their specific should be especially so since there is not facilitated by a regional entity, such as needs in mind) not only for the mere EIS-Africa's engagement in the a need for expensive supporting reason that owning your own technology infrastructure to make this symbiotic Mapping Africa for Africa (MAFA) is convenient but because it is sorely process and in collaboration with relationship a reality. Moreover there is a needed to solve the myriad of problems principal need for the technology to be RCMRD, which could be the natural these regions face. host for such data. unambitious and affordable.

University curricula in the disciplines of Motivation for satellite launch In developed regions satellites will only computer science, geomatics, Despite these arguments, a serious experience continued need if they offer engineering, surveying engineering, or bottom-up commitment needs to be given unrivalled competitive advantages, such surveying technology could be to the challenge of making satellite as broadcasting and providing strengthened to require additional systems affordable for the regions as the connectivity in deeply rural areas.

19 Special report Digital Migration: A survey of Africa’s journey and experience

In Africa, the transition from analogue to exclusively digital broadcasting is a major technological feat, with a considerable impact on the cultural and political landscape of the continent, bringing a multitude of free to air channels, more access to content for consumers via the television medium as well as providing more opportunities for broadcasters to grow their offerings. Though satellite platform has been digitized in the past ten years and is now 100% digital, African governments and private companies are still implementing DTT system before the eventual switch off of Terrestrial TV that has been predominantly analogue, according to this report.

Until the 1990s, broadcasting was squeezed into the exact same frequency digital migration. The radio signal mainly a matter of transferring sound or space than is possible under analogue distributors and the radio audiences also video streams through the airwaves or transmission. In this wise, a digitised need to be digitally migrated, and that is cable as well by means of analogue signal can allow for up to ten standard at least years away. signals. This was a linear process, with definition TV channels to be broadcast, each element in the content stream whereas a single analogue channel If worldwide, the digital transmission of taking its turn to transmit behind the would require the whole frequency. In broadcast signals is the priority part of one that went before it. This worked this system, several streams of digital migration, then the task of well enough, except for one thing: it broadcast content are combined into the digitising past content archives is likely required a lot of bandwidth as lots of single signal, in a process known as to be last in line. It will take a long time capacity was taken up on wireless Multiplexing. The space freed-up by and lots of money to digitise all old electronic frequencies in order to carry switching to DTT is known as the “digital analogue content. Once broadcasters signals in this manner. The knock-on dividend” and it means that some of the put the technology in place, forthcoming effect of this was that in the realm of the vacated bandwidth can be used for other content can be generated digitally, but airwaves, this meant that only a limited purposes. In particular, the “dividend” until then any analogue content they number of stations could be can allow for broadcasters to introduce have needs to be digitised for digital accommodated on the radio spectrum. multiple sound-tracks and language transmission. Ultimately, analogue A radio frequency like FM 105.7 would, subtitling as part of the video channel on transmissions will be switched off, which for instance, be available for use by a digital TV. Similarly, with the case of in turn will instantly make the TV sets single analogue radio station. In TV, digital radio, a Multiplex can facilitate an owned by millions of viewers redundant, which uses UHF and VHF frequencies, ensemble of up to 50 channels on a unless all of them have acquired a “set- it was the same story: one station, one single signal. top box”. Rather than forcing everyone frequency. With limited frequencies, to buy a whole new TV set, the the effect was a limit to the number of Today, a TV broadcaster can decide to transmitted digital content will for a long stations. increase the compression and quality of time still be converted back to analogue most of its TV channels for a particular for consumption through this STB. In Much of this changed with the advent event, so as to make some extra space most parts of Africa, this gadget are of digital electronics. These available for a bandwidth-hungry High imported, and then promoted, marketed, technologies meant that sound and Definition (HD) broadcast of that specific distributed and acquired by viewers. video, as well as text and still images, occasion. Technically, the same TV With the box, consumers can continue to could be stored and transmitted in the broadcaster could also run radio view broadcasting on the screens of form of binary digits. These “one's” and services at certain times of the day on their analogue TV sets. Eventually, “zero's” correspond to on-off electrical the Multiplex, and switch to TV or data viewers are likely to upgrade to digital- pulses. It is easy to see the advantages streams at others. In this way, digital receiver capable TV sets, and at that this has for electronic communication. broadcasting allows for channels within point will have a range of benefits of not By contrast, the old analogue flow channels. only getting, but also displaying and wasted bandwidth with pauses and storing, signals that are digital. blank spaces between electronic data As the process goes on, digital migration signals. In other words, digital implies switching from inefficient If worldwide, the digital transmission of distribution gives us much greater analogue signals to more efficient digital broadcast signals is the priority part of efficiencies in the use of bandwidth. ones. Though, in Africa, many radio digital migration, then the task of stations already use digital equipment digitising past content archives is likely With digital broadcasting, many more for producing programmes, however, to be last in line. It will take a long time radio and TV channels can be this does not equate to readiness for and lots of money to digitise all old

20 analogue content. Once broadcasters has deployed its DTT network to 84.2% That trade-off in favour of local industry put the technology in place, of the population. was a deliberate policy decision. forthcoming content can be generated Satellite is the only pay TV platform in digitally, but until then any analogue South Africa. There are 5.6 million A portion of subsidy came from a South content they have needs to be digitised satellite TV subscribers in South Africa, African statutory body distributing for digital transmission. Ultimately, with a further 800,000 households monies levied from the telecom industry, analogue transmissions will be capable of receiving satellite TV the Universal Service and Access switched off, which in turn will instantly broadcasts. There are two satellite Agency of South Africa. In addition, the make the TV sets owned by millions of operators active in South Africa, South African policy on digital migration viewers redundant, unless all of them StarTimes and Naspers. Naspers also involved subsidising the conversion have acquired a “set-top box”. Rather through its DStv service dominates the of analogue transmission infrastructure than forcing everyone to buy a whole market with 96% market share. to digital equipment. This implies new TV set, the transmitted digital supporting the work of the state-owned content will for a long time still be Two broadcasters dominate the FTA signal distributor Sentech. converted back to analogue for television market: the public service consumption through this STB. In most broadcaster SABC and the commercial There is also policy to be made on standards, especially the kinds of digital parts of Africa, this gadget are E.tv. SABC broadcasts three channels: imported, and then promoted, technology options chosen for TV, radio, SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3. All are marketed, distributed and acquired by satellite and cellphone, and whether viewers. With the box, consumers can general entertainment channels digital TV broadcast should be in continue to view broadcasting on the broadcasting in English as well as in Standard Definition or High Definition. screens of their analogue TV sets. other official languages of the country in Indeed, South Africa planned to distribute HD signals internationally during the Eventually, viewers are likely to Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana. upgrade to digital-receiver capable TV World Cup, but not domestically. E.tv broadcasts two channels for free: sets, and at that point will have a range Subscribers to DStv's SuperSport of benefits of not only getting, but also the e.tv channel, which is a general satellite channels were expected to to displaying and storing, signals that are entertainment channel and is frequently receive HD transmissions of the games, digital. on the top of TV ratings in South Africa, but would need a TV set capable of and the all-news channel eNCA. E.tv displaying these to get the benefit. African experience Southern Africa through the SADC had has also created a number of thematic also agreed to the DVB standard for channels which are available only digital TV. But, as the team later learnt, Africa is primarily covered by two TV through the pay satellite platform. the South African government later platforms: satellite, both free and pay, review this and adopted the Japanese alongside terrestrial. Cable TV and In South Africa, digital migration is a standard. Industry interests complained IPTV networks represent less than 1% government development agenda with a that enormous resources and planning of the total TV distribution market. The main theme of universal access to had gone into DVB preparations, and satellite platform has been digitized in information and e-government some said that if anything South Africa the past ten years and is now 100% should upgrade to DVB-T+ which was a digital. programs. In addition, the migration third more efficient than DVB-T. Pay DTT is growing fast in Sub- strategy was strongly accelerated by the Saharan Africa. Pay DTT is cheaper FIFA World Cup hosted in June, 2010. than pay satellite TV, which is This led to the biggest technology shift of Nigeria is the most populous country in increasing the appeal of pay DTT to the TV broadcast after color TV. An growing middle classes. Two operators Sub-Saharan Africa and has the highest Independent Communications Authority dominate the pay DTT market in Sub- number of TV households. However, Saharan Africa: Naspers and of South Africa (ICASA) issued new StarTimes. Both operators have regulations for digital migration for all laround 50 per cent of the nation's agreements with African governments incoming broadcasters to adhere to the households are equipped with with TV to act as sub-licensees for rolling-out new digital migration policy. South Africa set. More than three out of four TV DTT networks, but which also allows them to launch pay DTT services. The went ahead to quickly decide on crucial households in Nigeria, watch FTA TV operators have substantially benefitted migration issues such as standards, while around 3.6 million subscribe to at from this arrangement with StarTimes where Digital Video Broadcasting least one pay TV service. Satellite is the attracting 2.1 million subscribers by Terrestrial Second Generation (DVB- main method used for receiving TV with end-2014, now close 3.5 million and T2) was chosen. while Naspers' GOtv service recorded 10.9 million households on both pay and 900,000 customers at the end of 2014, In the South African experience, public free TV platforms, followed by terrestrial reaching 2 million at the end of 2016. funds subsidise the state-owned broadcaster SABC to digitise news- (analogue and digital) with 5.1 million South Africa has the highest gathering largely in the form of digital In 2010 the Public Service Broadcaster penetration of TV sets across Sub- Outside Broadcast Vans and editing NTA formed a joint company with the Saharan Africa, at 79.5%. South Africa equipment. The government specified has a high take up of pay TV services that the set-top boxes should be Chinese pay TV operator StarTimes with 47% of TV households subsidised for the poorest sector of called NTA StarTimes. This offers a pay subscribing to a pay TV service. The society. In addition, South African policy DTT service while rolling out the national only active platforms for TV distribution was set to require local manufacture of DTT network to cover the 25 largest in South Africa are terrestrial and set-top boxes, rather than import. This Nigerian cities. The shares in the satellite. South Africa's terrestrial TV serves the interests of local platform is predominantly analogue. manufacturers, although it also means company are split as follows: 70% State-owned Sentech has launched that the products are also more StarTimes and 30% NTA. StarTimes is DTT services. To support this Sentech expensive than if they were imported. paying a fee to the Nigerian Regulator for

21 Special report

every Nigerian city that the pay DTT Over 60% of households in Senegal dominated by the channels offered by service is expanding to. At the end of have a TV set, which is well above the the three largest media groups in the 2014 the Chinese company had over 2 average for Sub-Saharan Africa. The country: Standard Media Group, Royal million DTT subscribers in Nigeria, two major TV distribution platforms in Media Services and Nation Media making StarTimes the biggest pay TV the country are analogue terrestrial and Group. As well as owning newspapers operator in the country. The only other digital satellite. Cable TV networks have and radio stations, Nation Media Group operator who offers a pay DTT service is been rolled-out in Dakar and a handful of runs one TV channel, NTV. Standard Naspers, with its GOtv service. The other cities for redistributing satellite Media Group offers a popular general satellite platform was fully digitized in the channels. There are no pay TV entertainment channel, KTN, while mid-2000s and is the main FTA platform operators on the cable TV platform in Royal Media Services broadcasts in Nigeria attracting almost two thirds of Senegal. Instead there a number of another popular general entertainment the households pay TV services are also small local cable providers. The cable channel, Citizen TV. The public service offered on satellite, attracting 960,000 service is regulated as a utility in broadcaster of Kenya, Kenya subscribers at the end of 2014. The Senegal. Around 10% of TV households Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) large bulk of satellite customers used satellite. The satellite platform has broadcasts two channels – the general subscribe to the Naspers owned service been fully digitalized. entertainment channel KBC 1 and the culture-led Heritage TV. The KBC DStv), followed by MyTV Africa and There are two pay satellite operators in channels broadcast in English and newcomer CONSAT, which launched in the country: Excaf and Canal+ Horizons. Swahili while some of their programmes June 2014. Canal+ Horizons is a satellite service are also broadcasted in the other For free-to-air TV more than 70 owned by Canal Plus Group which Kenyan local languages. commercial channels are broadcast, launched in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2001. however the majority of them do not The service offers premium content With more than 45 million people, Kenya have national coverage. Advertising such as sports and African movies. have more than 11 million households revenues are often inadequate to fund However, it has suffered heavily from but only one in three is equipped with at these channels and so some are funded piracy due to distribution of illegal least one TV set. For many Kenyan by entrepreneurs, politicians, religious decoders and cards by local dealers. homes, as indeed is the case for many bodies or the armed forces. It is common Multiplatform operator, Excaf, offers the homes in Sub-Saharan Africa, the for channels to have short lifespans. other satellite pay TV service. Excaf is possession of a TV set is a luxury. trying to enlarge its customer base by The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), As in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa the focusing more on the provision of local formerly known as Nigerian Television, majority of TV households in Kenya still content including movies, music, TV is the public service broadcaster of the receive analogue signals, mainly from shows and the matches of the national country. It operates more than 31 TV the terrestrial platform. However, in football team of Senegal. stations across all the regions of Nigeria. Kenya the digitization of television The majority of its channels broadcast Senegal is in the early process of progressed with a slightly faster pace general entertainment content, while a transitioning from analogue terrestrial to than in the rest of the continent. At the few are thematic channels focusing on exclusively digital broadcasting.. end of 2014, around 1.5 million homes or news and sports. The largest Senegal tried to follow the French 43% of the total number of TV commercial FTA networks in Nigeria are system by assigning DTT licences to the households in the country were Galaxy TV (the first broadcaster in the content operators, rather than network receiving digital TV. It is marginally country), Africa Independent Television operators. This system has led to delays higher than the average for the whole of (AIT) and Silverbird. The commercial as the country lacked the necessary Sub-Saharan Africa which stood at 40% broadcasters' networks cover only some financial resources to fund the roll-out of in 2014. the DTT network. Furthermore, the regions of Nigeria and not the whole Kenya completed the digital transition in Senegalese government had decided to country. April 2015. The first DTT signal was subsidize 50% of the price of DTT set- The first FTA broadcaster in Senegal launched in the capital city, Nairobi, on top boxes, further complicating the was the public service broadcaster, 09 December 2009. At the time of funding issue. Radio Television Senegalaise (RTS). launch, the decision was taken to split RTS operates two channels (RTS1 and In 2014 in an effort to speed up the DTT network roll-out process. The RTS2) which are general entertainment digitisation of the terrestrial platform the government funded the Public Service channels and cover the whole country. government outsourced the rolling-out Broadcaster, KBC, to roll-out a network Commercial broadcasters (such as of the DTT network to Excaf. The DTT and to carry its own channels through its 2Stv, SN2, WALF TV, TOUBA TV, platform in Senegal, according to the transmission technology offspring – SENTV) have been present in the government plans, will comprise 4 Signet. However, the construction of the country since 2001, when the multiplexes and will offer up to 60 D T T n e t w o r k f o r c o m m e r c i a l government liberalized the regulatory channels, of which Excaf has the right to broadcasters was outsourced to a environment. However, these TV use 2 of the 4 multiplexes for launching foreign company - the Chinese Pan services are available only in the capital pay services on the DTT platform. Africa Networks Group (a sister company of pay TV operator StarTimes). Dakar and a few major cities. The FTA TV market in Kenya is As a method of compensation the

22 Industry report

Chinese network operator was licensed broadcasters, network operators, Hellas Sat expands African consumer electronics manufacturers and presence with Johannesburg to launch a pay service in the DTT even social institutions and charities. platform. At the end of 2014, the capital Developed countries had successfully office city of Nairobi shut off all analogue managed this by creating specific terrestrial signals. purpose bodies, which allow for a Hellas Sat announced the opening of its smoother transition process, such as new sales office in Johannesburg, South Satellite is the second largest TV Digital UK in the United Kingdom. Most Africa, strengthening its presence in the distribution platform in Kenya after developing countries have not created region. terrestrial (analogue and digital). It is similar bodies or organizations, which further slows the digital transition The new office will allow Hellas Sat to estimated that more than 500,000 TV process. increase the scope of its operations in households relied primarily on satellite South Africa, providing a new in-region, for receiving their TV signal at the end of Another delaying factor is the selection of direct contact for sales and marketing 2014. Satellite is offering FTA and pay a digital transmission broadcasting while helping maintain its long-standing content. At the end of 2014 there were standard. Some developing countries relationships within the South African were faced with a choice between the telco industry. three satellite pay TV operators in European (DVB-T) and the Japanese Kenya: DStv owned by the South African (ISDB-T) standards, especially taking Antonis Maniatis, who has more than a Naspers Group, Zuku (owned by into account the offers made by both decade of experience in the South Wanachi Group – an East African Media parties. A prime example is South Africa, African telco industry, as well as holding & Telecoms business group) and which initially favoured the adoption of the an MSc in Satellite Communications, will manage the new office and act as the StarSat, the satellite service of European DVB-T. However, in 2010 political favour turned to the Japanese primary contact for the region. StarTimes launched in October 2014. standard; before the country decided adopt the newest European standard He will also be responsible for business (DVB-T2) in 2011, after a cabinet re- development, as well as account African experience shuffle and the removal of the former m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e l e a d i n g Minister of Communications. communication services and media For broadcasters, network operators and companies operating in the region. consumer electronics manufacturers, Low TV household penetration of a addressing the requirements of digital terrestrial platform can also lead to a “The telco market in South Africa and the transition is a costly enterprise, delay in digitisation. For example, in the wider region is evolving at a rapid rate, according to report by WIPRO. Middle East and North Africa more than with changing customer behavior putting 90% of the TV households rely on the increased demands on service However, the viewer also bears a satellite platform, while in Asia-Pacific the providers,” said Maniatis. “In opening considerable part of the cost through the primary penetration of cable and satellite this new office, Hellas Sat has shown its purchase of new equipment, especially a TV is four to five times that of terrestrial. commitment to helping those service DTT set-top box, sometimes a new TV providers meet the demands of their aerial or through installation costs. The As a consequence, governments in these customers, as well as illustrating its costs involved with digital transition are regions consider digital transition as a desire to further its great relationships not insurmountable for a TV viewer living less urgent priority since a small minority with the industry across the region.” in a developed country, but they may of TV households will be affected. In constitute a significant portion of the addition, if a neighbouring country delays disposable income of a family living in a digital transition, a government's Comtech Receives Orders from developing country. incentive to shut off analogue terrestrial International Space Customer TV may decrease, due to the reduced risk of interference between analogue For instance, the South African Comtech Command and Control transmissions of one country and digital government has calculated that roughly Technologies group, which is part of transmissions of a neighbouring country. 40% of the country's population cannot Comtech's Government Solutions This has occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, afford the purchase of a DTT set-top box. segment, has been awarded orders for instance. totaling approximately $1.9 million by an Another factor impeding the fast roll-out i n t e r n a t i o n a l S p a c e a n d I n m a n y d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s of the switchover relates to labour Communications customer. resources. For instance, many Sub- broadcasters do not have the financial resources to support the switch to digital, Saharan African countries do not “Comtech supports a number of key and are placing pressure on governments possess sufficient numbers of trained projects within the global space to delay the whole process. technical personnel like electronic industry,” said Fred Kornberg, President engineers, DTT network technicians, or and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Governments however may seek to TV aerial installers needed to drive the Telecommunications Corp. DTT uptake. Some governments in promote domestic production of DTT TV equipment via blocking imported developing countries lack the funds to “ T h e s e r e c e n t o r d e r s f u r t h e r receivers, raising import duty taxes or promote this, which in some cases has demonstrate that our customers requiring domestic-only production of led to the outsourcing of DTT network continue to recognize the unique value equipment. This policy results in further roll-outs to foreign companies like the of Comtech's expertise in space-level delays to the switchover process if the China-based StarTimes. supply chain management and local manufacturing industry does not Implementing the switchover also engineering services for their most have the necessary resources to start requires the coordination of many important satellite programs parties, from government departments producing the equipment. a n d r e g u l a t o r y a g e n c i e s t o

23 Satellite Industry’s role in the framework of sustainable development goals

Four African countries, Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have been working together since 2003 to establish a combined space asset that collectively serves a unique need for regular up-to-date monitoring of the African environment. Though international cooperation and transfer of technology can help in the sustainable development of Africa, and therefore one of the challenges is that Africa is no longer the continent that continues to purchase technology but rather the continent that produces technology, thereby requiring investment in capacity building, training, research and governance, according to this report.

In the words of Dr Jones Killimbe, Director General & CEO, RASCOM, collectively serves a unique need for effects and sustainable development. Africa still faces significant deficit not regular up-to-date monitoring of the Today Algeria is operating the Alsat-2A o n l y i n I n f o r m a t i o n a n d African environment. The initiative satellite, Nigeria has recently put on orbit Communication Technology, but in all came from the successful SunSat the NigeriaSat-X and NigeriaSat-2 major infrastructures in general, satellite programme of Stellenbosch satellites and South Africa IS preparing resulting in increased production and University that led to the creation of the the follow-on of Sumbandilasat satellite. transaction costs, reduced competitiveness of businesses, The project gained political affecting the rate of economic traction when the governments of and social development on the other countries started to become continent. Numerous ICT interested. The concept is that statistics point to the fact that participating countries will each Africa is the most unconnected contribute one satellite to the continent. low numbers of constellation and will have access households with computer and to the other satellites from South working internet, low access to Africa, Algeria and Nigeria. At this internet for age group of 16 years stage, Kenya does not have an an d above, low numbers of indigenous satellite industry, thus customers with access to is participating through its ground broadband. station. In December 2009, the g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e f o u r According to him, challenges participating countries signed a facing Africa in ICT are many, memorandum of understanding mostly, lack of connectivity, [MOUI. It is stated that ARMC is accessibility and affordability in open to other African countries, all rural and remote, areas even if they cannot participate to constituting over 70% of the total the space segment. It thus population of about 900 million became a project driven by intra- people; lack of appropriate A f r i c a n c o o p e r a t i o n access networks due to the geo considerations. graphical terrain of the continent; SunSpace company. Then came the A steering committee was formed and connecting Africa to Africa and within idea of having a constellation of workshops were held. For example, in African countries themselves in a cost s a t e l l i t e s t o a d d r e s s A f r i c a ' s South Africa, a users group having a effective way; the development of ICT development needs: the African need for earth observation data was in Africa is a driver for socio- economic Resources Management Constellation constituted. All their requirements were development but remains a burden for [ARMC). consolidated in a final set for the ARMC. the fragile populations and low This document was shared with the other broadband penetration leading to very ARM helps to provide easy access to African countries and they would go high costs. satellite data for end users in disaster through the same process to define their management, food security, public priorities. Four African countries, Algeria, health, infrastructure, land use, and Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have water resource management. It thus Instead of having a dedicated satellite for been working together since 2003 to supports urban development, mapping each country, the phase zero is that each establish a combined space asset that for the surveillance of climate change country contributes capacity on one

24 Accordingly, this kind of disaster could satellite. And to start with, a certain conventions cover the protection and be prevent with a more proactive fraction of time dedicated to an existing management of the coastal and marine information system, integrating more or planned satellite would be a country environment. Now of course many data sources. So in 2003 an Advanced contribution to ARMC. As the organizations are involved in the Fire Information System [AFIS] as a constellation becomes operational and management of the coast around Africa . service module of the Wide Area a satellite needs to be replaced, a The other initiative is the Large Marine Monitoring Information System was country would build a fully dedicated Ecosystem approach which looks not e s t a b l i s h e d . WA M I S p r o v i d e s satellite. This would be the idea to only at the physical but al so the continuous data streams captured and realize the project in a faster way than ecosystem , the resources and the processed by the South African National starting each with a dedicated satellite. pollution aspects of the management on Space Agency [SANSA formerly CSIR - the coastal line and the immediate Satellite Application Centre] at marine environment. Environmental management Hartebeesth oek, near Pretoria, as well as by the Meraka Institute in Pretoria. It Drought prevention and monitoring Africa is a huge continent and aims to deliver fire information products participates in global environmental to researchers, Fire Protection Agencies Recur rent drought during the last 30 monitoring and economic development and Disaster managers all over years has had a disastrous effect on an efforts. So Africa has accepted to Southern Africa in support of decision already very difficult economic and comply with international agreements making in the monitoring of fi res. It is the social situation. The determining and such as the imp lamentation of Ag end a firs t near real time operational satellite early locating of these anomalies make it 21 on Sustainable Development and th fire monitoring system in Southern possible to set up mitigating measures. e Millennium Development goals . Africa. Sustainable Development is based on As regards ecology, the Sahel zone is where most of the population has three pillars - the environment , social Maritime ecosystems issues and the economy - an d all are economic dependence on crop farming concerned by risks . and livestock. However, rainfall in this Africa is a massive continent with very zone displays considerable variability in different coastlines-on the Indian Ocean, space and time and this can penalize Devastation by floods, earthquakes or t h e A t l a n t i c O c e an an d t h e fires have impacts on the environment , crops and grazing. The[CSE, Ecological Mediterranean. Different communities Monitoring Centre in Dakar has set up a goods and services and lea d to living along these coasts and across destruction of social services such as system based on the use of modern Africa have in common a high technologies such as remote sensing roads and schools. Drought affects food dependency on fish as a source of security an d livelihood in general ; and geographic information systems to protein as the protein diet is very identify the location of the zones drought and locust s invasion s affe t important In Africa . crop production . To these we have to affected by drought. add man-made disasters such as And in many countries the construct ion deforestation , urbanization and land The system was hinged on the analysis materials for building houses, medicine of the crop installation phase especially degradation. A lot of people are and other kinds of products come from concerned by risks. During the years Millett, groundnut usinq a model based the coastal environment. But challenges on rainfall estimation images calculated 2000 -2001, 35 mill ion people were are very different. Along the coast of affected by disasters In Africa. Disasters using Meteosat data between May to West Africa, they concern fisheries, the August. This is one of the periods most or risks have become an impediment for oil industry, as well as mining industries. Sustainable Development. susceptible to drought. During these Along the East Coast of Africa, there are periods, farmers often wonder whether also fisheries, a growing gas industry their first sowings have any chance of Monitoring Wilde Fire and soon there might be an oil industry. success. They are provided with Approximately 600 people die and over Along the South African Coast, there is forecasts by zone. If the forecasts are 4 000 are injured annually in South more mining but al so fishery industries. poor, sowing will have to be repeated Africa as a result of fire, and the se In North Africa , there is a variety of and then alternatives with suitable seed blazes cause more than 50 million industries ranging from shipping to varieties were offered to them. Euros' worth of damage to property fishing and of course tourism, which every year. Fire is responsible for many plays an important role along the The institution also provide analysis of diseases related to constant smoke, like Mediterranean coast, the Eastern coast the precipitations evolution using the asthma. It also has an impact on climate of Africa and Southern Africa. It is also data provided by the Agence Nationale change, land cover, the productivity of important on the West coast of Africa but de la Meteorologie of Senegal to the vegetation and it opens up the still developing. Madagascar is the determine rainfall deficits and surpluses landscape . With satellite images it is largest island. Then there is the islands and to assess the impact on crops and possible to see a river of smoke coming all around Africa, starting from the North grazing land [May to October] ; from Angola , flowing over Zambia, with Socotra , all the way down to Botswana and Mozambique. It stays all Seychelles, Reunion , Mauritius, and In addition, vegetation growth the year and can reach Australia. around the tip of Africa, going up, monitoring especially between May to October, based on the Vegetation There is also the island s along the Conditions Index [VCI] calculated from In September 2001 a very big fire coasts of Africa , Guinea- Bissau, Sao SPOT Vegetation data obtained thanks disaster killed 23 people in the Kruger Tom e and Principe and Cape Verde. to a partnership between CSE. This Par k. At that time South Africa received And of course were all consider as makes NOAA satellite data to mapped the data coastal zones. In terms of governance, it possible to measure and identify the and could clearly see where the fire there is a regional structure. For East zones in which the vegetation and hence started, when it crossed the road , the Africa, the Nairobi convention, for the crops display signs of stress. change in wind direction that killed West coast, the Abidjan convention, and people mi les away from where it then for the North coast of Africa there is Also, analysis of the grazing conditions started. the Barcelona convention. These three around the main water points in the

25 pastoral zone of Senegal using satellite 1994 to 70 mill ion in 2000. Though it is increasing precision of digital images, an images and ground measurement well over 100 million today, growth rates increasing number of satellites devoted to operations to determine pasture have decreased to more acceptable Observing the Earth and the environment, production and to guide flock and herd levels, much more so than south of the spatial remote sensing images are turning movements during August to Sahara. In a context of increased scarcity into everyday items. They are becoming December. One of the major outputs at of fossil fuels , climate change, the most effective, simple and cheapest this level is the plant production map accelerated desertification and method of obtaining information about the quantifying available biomass. Its exhaustion of marine resources, the surface of the world. immediate use is the guiding of Maghreb countries face the same transhumance to zones where forage is challenges. All current development systems have available . shown their limits. A two figure rate of At the halfway point and at the end of In Morocco, where today 98% of the development for Africa is mentioned that the rainy season , environmental watch population is supplied with electricity , should result in the rise in the standard of bulletins on 'Monitoring of agricultural 20% of the energy used still comes from living of the population . But poverty is in and pastor al zones in Senegal using firewood. This has environmental creasing continuously. And over twenty remote sensing and geographic consequences - deforestation aggravates years after the Rio Summit we are still thin information systems' are published for the silting up of reservoirs - and also social king about the policies to be set up to partners of the CSE that monitors the effects: for a long time young girls could approach sustainable development. agricultural season. National decision not go to school because they had to carry makers and development partner s. firewood, not to speak of carrying water. A The environment is considered as being The work of the CSE is thus completely structuring Maghreb project would be a one of the three pillars of sustainable integrated in the national system for joint green belt for the three countries that development , alongside the economy agricultural and pastoral monitoring would stop the spread of desertification. and social aspects . At the level of the and serves to support the work of United Nation s Programme for the development projects opera ting in this Environment , it is considered to be the fie ld . This context ensures the From North Africa, a true water civilization foundation . Whence the notion of 'green information input in the decision was born and spread to Europe via Al economy' defined as 'one that results in process and feedback from those who Andalus, Today, the decrease in rainfall improved human well – being and social receive it. Combining satellite and field resulting from climate change has equity, while significantly reducing data makes it possible to identify become a problem, as does the environmental risks and eco logical drought four to six weeks earlier than Stalinization of coastal ground water over scarcities. before and describe it more accurately; -exploited by agriculture!. Soil erosion and to this must be added the possibility of desertification. The desert is advancing in Setting up a green economy requires assessing the impact on agriculture the south. Water availability is less than revision of the methods used to assess well before the harvest in order to 1000 m3 per per son per year in Morocco economic performances that do not cur facilitate decision s concern ing food and 500 m3 in Algeria and Tunisia. rent ly incorporate natural cap ital , which security. The advantages of satellite However, with the dams built in the 1960s, is nonetheless the bas is of the economies data for drought assessment lie in its capacities in Morocco are sufficient to of numerous countries, especially In certain intr insic features of remote cover consumption in towns and the Africa. sensing: a synoptic view of a large zone country, industry and agriculture. But the at various scales, continuous archiving pollution problems remain. Untreated The development of a green economy allowing retrospective studies and sewage is released into the sea by also involves access to cut ting-edge comparison with the present situation, numerous large cities in the Maghreb. technologies, such as space technology. good data reception frequency and Morocco wishes to play a role in This is the case in particular for the often at a reasonable cost. One of the agricultural development in Africa. It is not management of forests, a green resource issues for the future is the continued acceptable that the continent is still unable with considerable potential. The forest s in supply of this information, that is to say to ensure food self-sufficiency, given its the Congo basin form the second largest continuing observations . Thus riches in terms of land, water and 'green lung' of the planet and their world institutions like the CSE must continue phosphates, of which Morocco hold s strategic interest is obvious , When the to ensure the long-term viability of more than 75% of world reserves . Yields cloud masses formed above these forests project s. can be increased considerably by using cross the Atlantic they bring rain for fertiliser manufactured from phosphates, American farmers. This is there fore of cap without repeating the mistakes made in ital importance for food security in North North Africa Europe. America: no rain, no crops . The American The Maghreb countries share the same s understand the point well . It led to the Arab-Brber, Andalusia and Jewish Numerous African countries are launching of the Congo Basin Forest cultures and have the same interested. In order to promote agriculture Partnership in 2002 by South Africa and geographical context, with a with greater respect for ecosystems, the the United States, joined by France and Mediterranean climate in the north and Office Cherifiendes Phosphates is Germany. a very arid Saharan zone. In terms of working on a concept of rational the economies, each country chose its fertilization that will serve as a true green International cooperation and transfer of own pathway in the 1960s: with its revolution in Africa. Associating Algerian technology ca n help in the development energy resources, Algeria opted for gas and Moroccan phosphate could make of green economy. However, one of the strong industrial development, Tunisia our region the world leader in fertilizers. challenges is that Africa is no longer the for the tertiary sector and Morocco used continent that continues to purchase agriculture and fisheries as a base. Remote sensing is the appropriate tool for technology but rather the continent that Rebalancing then took place in the facing the urgent challenge of adaptation produces technology. This requires three countries. and the everyday management and investment in capacity building, training, monitoring of risks and catastrophes at research and governance . The green As regards demography, the region has various local and regional scales. It is also economy will thu s become t he new long displayed strong growth: the an essential tool for the monitoring and driving force lea ding to sustainable population of Morocco, Algeria and assessment of environmental changes development by fighting persistent Tunisia increased from 60 million in and for prevention. With the ever- poverty while conserving biodiversity.

26 Space missions and instruments

ALOS (Advanced Land EgyptSat-1 was launched in 2007. It is GALILEO . fitted with two instruments, one infra red Observing Satellite] and one multispectral. A JAXA [Japan Aerospace Exploration IKONOS An earth observation satellite operated Agency] earth observation satellite ENVISAT (ENVironmental carrying three instruments including a by the American company Geo Eye. The PALSAR radar (Phased Array type L- SAtellite) satellite Ikonos 2 carries an optical band Synthetic Aperture Radar). An ESA earth observation satelli te instrument with spatial resolution to less carrying the second generation of ERS than one met re. AlSat instruments, and especially an advanced synthetic aperture radar operating day and IRIDIUM General name for the earth observation night and in all weather and wit h resolution Iridium Communication s lnc: is the only satellites of the Algeria n space agency to 30 m [ASAR!. an RA-2 nc microwaves mobile voice and data satellite ASAL. The first, AISat-l , was launched r a d a r a l t i m e t e r a n d a n communications network that spans the in 2002. Alsat-2A, equipped with a high- imager/spectrometer operating in the entire globe. Iridium enables connections resolution multispectral camera, was visible and between people, organizations and launched in 2010. near-infrared spectra with resolut ion of assets to and from anywhere, in real time. 250m [MERIS]It has been in low orbit since The company has a major development A M E S D ( A f r i c a n M o n i t o r i n g 1999. programme underw ay for it s next Environment generation network-Iridium NEXT. for Sustainable Development] ERS (European Remote Sensing AMESD is a partnership between the IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite] African Union Commission [AUC) and Satellite] The Indian space agency ISRO 's the European Union [EU). AUC has An ESA earth observation programme programme for the remote sensing of been mandated by the five participating using low orbit satell ites . Two satellites land resources. The first satellite, IRS- Regional Economic Communities were launched-ERSl in 1991 and ERS2 in 1A, was put into or bit in 1988. With 10 [RECs] CEMAC, ECOWAS, IGAD, IOC 1995, and each carries several satellites in orbit, IRS is the largest and SADC and by the ACP Secretariat, instruments and in parti cul ar a synthetic constellation of low Earth orbit to be in charge of programme aperture radar [SAR) and a microwaves observation satellites and provides data i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . T h e A M E S D altimeter radar. with various spatial resolutions and programme [initiated in October 2007 specral to addresses the need for improved GMES (Global Monitoring for bands. environmental monitoring focused on Environment sustainable management of natural JASON resources. and Security] GMES will provide accurate, timely and A spatial oceanographic altimetry easily accessible information to improve programme that succeeded the ARGOS management of the environment, experimental joint CNES/NASA An international location and data understand and mitigate the effects of programme, Topex Poseidon, launched collecting system that in France is climate change and ensure civil security , It in 1992. Jason-l [2001] and Jason- under the responsibility of the CNES. is headed by the European Commission 212008) have the same 1300 km orbit ARGOS instruments are car ried by low [EC] in partnership wit h the European and supply data for climatic and oceanic orbit [LEO) satellites such as MetOp, Space Agency [ESA) and the European study and observations. Jason-3 should with continuous service assured since Environment Agency [EEA]The Sentinel- l be launched 1978, Among other things, ARGOS is satellites will provide all-weather , day and in 2014. These satellites carry high- used for the location of buoys, vessels night radar imagery for land and ocean precision microwaves altimeters of the and animals and for collecting services. The Sentinel-3 satellites will POSEIDON environmental data. provide high accuracy optical, radar and family, altimetry data for marine and land COSMO-SkyMed services, LANDSAT The generic name for US civil satellites COSMO-SkyMed [COnstellation of for the observation of land resources and small Satellites for the Mediterranean managed jointly by the NASA and the US basin Observation is a system of earth Geological Survey. The first satellite was observation satellites set up by the launched in 1972 . LANDSAT 7 was Italian ministries of Research and launched in 1999 and is equipped with a Defence under the management of the multispectral sensor [Enhanced Italian Space Agency. Thematic Mapper Plus ETM+ 1. The The system is for both civil and military Landsat Data Continuity Mission [LDCM] use and is based on a constellation of is current ly the name of the next Landsat four satellites equipped with a satellite mission. synthetic aperture radar [SAR) for full coverage of the Ear th, e-GEOS, a Joint venture between ASI [20%1 and NigeriaSat Telespazio [80%1 sells COSMO- GPS (Global Positioning System] Genera l name for th e earth observation SkyMed data and product s around the A satellite navigation system chosen by the satellites of the Nigerian National Space world. USA in 1973. Fully operational since 1992, Research and Development Agency EgyptSat it consists of 24 orbiting Navstar satellites . [NASRDAI. NigeriaSat - 1 was launched Any user [land vehicle, ship, aircraft or in 2001. NigeriaSat-2 and Nig eriaSat- General name for the earth observation spacecraft] can obtain an instantaneous NX, equippe d with multispect ral imagers satellites of the Egyptian agency posit ion fix using four of them. Europe is , were launched in 2011, National Authority for Remote Sensing developing its own system called and Space Sciences [NARSS]

27 Video economy

Nigeria’s flourishing video market

The Nigerian video economy, sometimes referred to as Nollywood, has over the the crime-riddled streets to go to the shown in the few remaining cinemas as last two decades become home to the cinema. This is especially the case for well. Increasingly, Nigerian video film is a world's most energetic film industry, and women, who in northern Nigeria may transnational business. Films circulate by many estimates the country is now the be obliged to stay at home during widely, not just in Africa but throughout world's largest film producer. The daylight hours according to the Islamic the rest of the world. Nigerian informal economy generates up tradition. Films typically cost around to two thousand “video films” a year, 400 naira (US$3.5) to buy outright, a However, the geographic situation of catering to the growing appetite of a pan- substantial amount of money in this African ethnic groups who found African audience. According to report, part of the world, but they can also be themselves divided by one or more industry revenue is estimated at rented for about an eighth of this price national border after the colonial powers' somewhere between US$50 million and In almost all cases, movies are passed carve-up of the continent in 1885 have US$200 million annually. around among extensive networks of facilitated the cross-border circulation of family and friends, and are commonly Nigerian videos. Kenneth Nnebue's Glamour Girls viewed in large groups. As a result, the The Yoruba people, for example, can be produced in 1994 was the first English- maximum value possible is extracted considered transnational as they reside language video and it set a precedent for from each outlay, making participation in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo; the Hausa the kind of narrative scenarios and in video culture relatively accessible to population is similarly spread across generic fusions to come. It explored the most Nigerians. Nigeria, Niger, Sudan, Cameroon, world of “senior girls”, women who have Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Chad. foregone marriage in favour of a career. The last few years have also seen a Second, she points to the movement of Populated by streetwalkers, young studs, curious movement within video videos throughout the African continent millionaires, and other colourful distribution back towards theatrical and throughout diasporic communities in character types, the film presented a and TV exhibition. Having established Europe and North America. In cities such rather sensationalist take on the senior itself entirely outside these circuits, as Amsterdam, New York, and London, girl phenomenon and encapsulated v i d e o n o w s e e m s t o h a v e stores catering to diasporic West many of the favoured themes of the reappropriated them on its own terms. Africans will inevitably boast a shelf full of burgeoning video industry—the This phenomenon can be traced back video films and other video-related “corruption, moral turbulence and to February 1997, when Zeb Ejiro's media such as magazines. pervasive anxiety of the post-oil boom video film Domitilla, a popular drama era; the garish glamour of Lagos; [and] about prostitution, was released in Streaming of African movies is just titillating and dangerous sexuality” several Lagos cinemas in conjunction starting to take off and this competitive with African Independent Television. industry is sure to experience growth The primary site of consumption for over the next decade. At the moment Nigerian video is the home. Even though Today video films are often broadcast there is a mix of operators in the many Nigerians do not have access to on satellite TV networks such as market—many are fly-by-night websites electricity and rely on petrol-powered Multichoice Nigeria and the South which do not inspire confidence when it generators, the level of VCR penetration Africa-based MNet, which features two comes time to hand over one's credit in Nigeria households is relatively high. 2 4 - h o u r N i g e r i a n m o v i e card number, while others are advertiser- Home viewing is seen as a more channels—Africa Magic and Africa supported sites which stream movies for desirable option than venturing out into Magic Plus. Sometimes video films are free, usually without the filmmakers'

28 Costs of reception equipment do vary as permission. IzognMovies.com, the few years. In African digital markets, to a result of the different scales of most established of the streaming build large subscriber bases and make deployment. DVB-T boxes, for instance, sites, is a legitimate digital rental satellite pay-TV affordable to low-income are substantially cheaper than their operation. In operation since 2004, households, platforms have often opted ISDB-T counterparts. Izogn is based in Maryland, US, with for a low-cost strategy offering a basic offices in Chicago and Nigeria. It package at a very competitive price. Cable TV charges US$0.99 or US$1.99 per Although platforms will not be profitable Cable TV services were essentially the movie, which subscribers can access in the short-term, this strategy enabled first non-terrestrial TV transmission for a seven-day period. them to rapidly build large subscriber mechanism. While relying on much the bases and become leading pay-TV same methods of transmission as According to its Director of Operations, providers. The deployment of affordable terrestrial TV services, using frequencies Tony Kavukattu, Izogn hosts around TV services and the development of in the UHF range, the signal is instead 2000 Nigerian features and facilitates enhanced services, such as HD offerings propagated along a copper or fibre cable. around 38,000 movie purchases a and PVR services, also largely Cable TV services were first used to month. The average user watches a contributed to the success of satellite provide TV signals to communities cut off whopping 38 titles a month, or 9.5 per pay-TV services in these markets. from a terrestrial TV transmitter due to week. Subscribers prefer English and The launch of satellite pay-TV platforms, geographical features blocking the Yoruba titles (sometimes subtitled in leading to the emergence of more signal. A single large antenna would be English) in roughly equal numbers. players in national markets and used to receive the signal from a point Drama edges out romance and competitive pressure between satellite which was within transmission range, comedy as the most popular genre. For pay-TV platforms or with other and the households in the TV dark area commercial reasons Kavukattu is competitors (cable and IPTV platforms), connected via physical cable. For the unwilling to divulge the number of has led to the initial phase of what could early cable services, as the signal was subscribers to the site, though he become a larger consolidation process in essentially identical to that broadcast advised that it receives around 93,000 the markets in the next few years. visits a month. He estimates that over the airwaves, no specialised around 98% of his subscribers are equipment beyond a standard television diasporic Africans, the majority of these set was required by the consumer to being Nigerian. Traditional Television receive and watch TV distributed via this Platforms mechanism. Kuvakattu also provided data which suggested that around 42% of Izogn's Terrestrial TV Satellite TV subscriber base is located in the US Terrestrial TV services rely on a network TV was first broadcast via satellite in the and another 24% resides in the UK. of transmitter towers spaced around a 1960s, however it was not until the 1980s Much smaller numbers live in Canada given location. These broadcast the TV and 1990s that the platform really began and Northern Europe, and there are signal through either VHF or simply very to take off as a means for domestic also a handful of subscribers from high frequency or UHF, simply ultra high television reception. nations including Malaysia, China, frequency transmission. UHF is Satellite TV services transmit signals Cyprus, and Jamaica. Australia is increasingly preferred over VHF, as largely in the C-band or Ku-band home to only a very small number of although the properties of UHF frequencies of the electromagnetic subscribers (0.34%). Ghana is the only transmission mean that the tolerances in spectrum. These fall outside the VHF African nation boasting any Izogn reception equipment must be tighter to and UHF areas of spectrum used for subscribers, which reflects both the enable clear reception, there are a terrestrial television and radio ubiquity of hard-format videos and the greater range of suitable frequencies for distribution, being at higher frequency. very low levels of ICT access in most transmitting TV. Such frequencies are typically ineffective parts of Africa. for TV transmission from terrestrial Digital terrestrial (DTT) services have transmitter masts or towers, as the Satellite pay-TV platforms replaced many of the older analogue signals are prone to interference from terrestrial TV services in markets across geographical features and buildings, lead video distribution causing them to attenuate rapidly. market the world, which reduces both wasted spectrum and transmission costs. Delivering the signal in the frequency ranges using satellites, however, means Satellite pay-TV channels remains the There are a number of standards at use that there will typically be no such leading revenue driver for satellite in the digital terrestrial world at present, obstacles in the way of reception, o p e r a t o r s i n v o l v e d i n v i d e o including European standard DVB-T, permitting C-band and Ku-band broadcasting. The success of satellite Japanese standard ISDB-T, Chinese frequencies to be an effective method of pay-TV offerings, including growing standard DTMB and North American signal dissemination. demand for satellite TV has in turn standard ATSC. These standards have fuelled the launch of new pay-TV various different specifications for IPTV channels in Africa. transmission mechanisms, but all aim to IPTV is a digital only platform. IPTV provide a template for multiplexing and services work in a different way to those In the last decade, dozens of satellite improving the efficiency of frequency using radio frequency broadcasts; pay-TV platforms have been launched use. The European DVB-T standard is information is encapsulated within around the world. Over 200 TV the most widely used worldwide, with Internet Protocol, a communications platforms in service at the end of 2015, deployments across Europe, Asia and standard used in computer network data covering more than 100 countries South America. It has also been delivery. This is then delivered via a across all regions. selected by African and Middle Eastern broadband connection to the consumer With more than 150 million subscribers broadcasters. Different set-top box and premises. the satellite pay-TV industry is now a transmission architectures are required IPTV services are distinct from online or proven distribution channel for digital for each different technology, meaning web-TV services, which are accessed entertainment. The satellite pay-TV that, for instance DVB-T boxes are not via a PC or mobile device via the open market has been ramping up in the last compatible with ATSC transmission. Internet. IPTV services are delivered via

29 Major international players first version of the BBC iPlayer was the video service. IHS believes that Netflix distributed through a P2P network due to Amazon has been largely successful in the bandwidth limitations that existed in managing its Lovefilm customer base to Netflix launched its streaming service as the UK broadband market. As the iPlayer a value-add to its core rent-by-mail the Prime subscription over the was updated it moved towards unicast standalone proposition. business in 2007. The service was distribution provided by CDN partners. initially tied to both the physical rental The service developed away from a business and to the PC in the United desktop client, which only allowed non- Okko States. As the service was bundled there linear viewing, to a service that was based Okko is a Russian online video platform was initially no revenue being generated around variable bitrate streaming. The with two business models; transactional, from online video. However, Netflix was BBC must protect its content both when it and SVoD. The service is available on a moving ahead of the curve to transition streams the content but also when it is variety of platforms but its main revenue consumers to online SVoD, a business downloaded and consumed offline on the stream is from Smart TV Transactional model that is familiar to consumers PC and mobile devices. VoD, with more than 80% of consumption through the pay TV industry. The BBC interpreted its public service on Smart TVs. Okko launched in July Netflix actively managed the transition of mandate to bring the service to as many 2011 and provides access to more than consumers' consumption to online video connected devices as possible. However, 5,500 movies in HD, ultra HD (4k) and 3D. away from more familiar forms of this led the service to have relatively high It also offers access to TV channels consumption. Netflix incrementally cost of development due to device through its Okko TV service. improved the streaming service both in fragmentation - with more than 300 terms of device availability and content. different Android device versions being Despite high level of piracy in the Russian Initially this was through dedicated created. The BBC is perhaps unique in the market Okko has been relatively Netflix streaming boxes, Roku was spun number of devices it is available on and successful by focusing on the Smart TV out of Netflix as a Netflix streaming box, the number of versions that were in the platform which allows them to protect and then to games consoles. The market. content better when compared to other consoles were initially dependent on a platforms. This has helped Okko in Netflix disc being inside the device The iPlayer, however, remains a non- negotiations with content providers before becoming an application within linear service. In March 2015 90% of (mainly local studios) to show content the consoles media toolbar. video requests were consumed on an on- earlier or at the same time as theatrical In 2011 Netflix moved to separate the demand basis. However, radio cinema releases. These changes to the Watch Instantly, streaming service, from consumption is mainly based around the traditional windowing of content have its physical disc subscription. Although linear schedule with 73% of consumption helped avoid piracy by making desirable initially this was met with resistance from of the BBC radio stations being consumed content available more conveniently to its subscribers it did not have a long term as a simulcast. This is due to the peaks of consumers. detrimental effect on Netflix's total radio iPlayer being the daytime whilst subscriber base. The company's consumers are at their desk and cannot MLB.tv managed transition of its customer base access a traditional radio. The digital media arm of Major League to digital consumption has helped it Baseball (MLB) provides mLB.tv. MLB convert its US service to 85% of its total T h e p o p u l a r i t y o f o n d e m a n d Advanced media (MLBAM) currently Q1 2015 domestic revenues. The consumption has shown the importance controls all digital propositions of MLB company has though faced significant of making content available from a legal and also is a white label provider of online challenges in controlling its costs in the source around the initial linear broadcast video platforms, with HBO Now one of its lower margin business of OTT SVoD. date. If this isn't the case then consumers more notable customers. Netflix has in response launched it Netflix will take to illegal approaches to consume Open Connect proprietary CDN. This this content, either in advance of MLB.tv offers out of market baseball allows the company to store its content broadcast or post broadcast With a global games within a subscription that last for on its own servers within partner ISPs market consumers are increasingly the length of the baseball season usually network. demanding popular international content March-October. The subscription also As Netflix has moved away from its to be made available as close to its gives consumers access to the MLB At physical disc business it has faced new original broadcast date as possible. The Bat app, one of the top-grossing apps on challenges in protecting the content it BBC took this approach with the first the app store, where they can get news, licenses from content providers. episode of the new series of Top Gear highlights and radio feeds for games. Although with physical discs consumers which was broadcast to a global audience Combined together MLB At Bar and could attempt to copy the content to their simultaneously to avoid devaluing the MLB.tv had a reported 3.5 million computer the studios would put DRM show in international markets. subscribers in 2014. onto the DVD to try and stop this. When Netflix entered the streaming market it The MLB season has 2,430 games and not only had to deal secure its own Amazon MLB.tv streams all out of market games to streams but also stop out-of-market Amazon currently offers video content in its subscribers as well as offering DVR users viewing content. the United States, Germany, Austria, Japan and the UK with transactional functionality, alternative commentaries and multi-game viewing to a global With rights licensed on a territory by movies and TV shows. In all five markets audience. MLBAM streams content to territory basis Canadian Netflix content is available to be rented (iVoD) or games consoles, smart TV platforms, subscribers are not licensed to view purchased (EST) and includes both TV DMAs (Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast content sold for the United States. This and movie content. In both Europe and etc.), and has a native Windows 8 app. also means that if a US subscriber travels North America the e-retailer has uses its With traditional broadcast rights worth to the UK they can only consume the Amazon Prime subscription to bring TV more than $1 billion a year the UK's Netflix catalogue and not the larger and movie content to consumers. Prime enforcement of blackouts on the service US catalogue. subscribers have access to a selection of movies and TV shows at no additional has ensured that traditional broadcast cost. In Europe, due to legacy issues from rights holders are not being undercut by BBC iPlayer the acquired Lovefilm business, the OTT delivery of games. Launched on Christmas day 2007 the subscribers can also subscribe direct to

30 African report

Lake Chad: Sectarian crisis poses food insecurity challenges

As large as 25,000km2 decades ago, between 1, 500 mm in the southern parts settlements and soil. Lake Chad, one of Africa's largest lake, of the region to less than 100 mm in the shared by four countries namely northern parts of Chad. Thus, with a This lake provides fresh water for majority Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger, has small quantity of water coming into the of over 20 million people living in the basin. fluctuated greatly, shrinking by up to 80 lake and a projected increased future However, primary and tertiary sectors of per cent in 1985, but reaching demand, the future of Lake Chad is still industrial production makes up the 19,000km2 only recently. threatened. r e m a i n d e r o f t h e e m p l o y m e n t opportunities in Lake Chad's drainage Nowadays, there are several remote With low humidity, high temperatures basin. There is a dominance of agro- sensing satellite systems such as and shallow lake depths, 80% of Lake industries, followed by textile and Landsat TM and ETM, ASTER, IKONOS, Chad's water has been lost through tanneries with slow technological G E O E y e , Q u i c k b i r d , R a p i E y e , evaporation. During the last forty years progress. The combined effects of climate WorldView providing from medium to regional precipitation has been changes and unsustainable water projects high and very high resolution imagery of reportedly low. The lake is extremely have made significant reductions to the the Basin to enhance comprehensive shallow with a depth of less than 7m; flows of the rivers into Lake Chad. evaluation.. thus, changes in the inflow of water to the lake caused by climate variability and Biodiversity values Even as remote sensing imagery has increased human water use have a rapid become a powerful tool for acquiring influence on the lake. Lake Chad has Lake Chad has one of the most productive data to analyse and map spatio-temporal been reduced from an area of regions of fresh water fish in Africa. The land use change and urban growth approximately 25,000 km2 in 1963 to an major species includes Alestes, Shilbe process at different spatial scale. In area of 1,350 km2 in 2001 and this Claris and Tilapia. The breeding activity of particular, remote sensing provide shrinking has had an enormous impact all major species is associated with the fundamental observations of the urban for the inhabitants in the area as well as rainy period and increase in the water level growth and environmental conditions agricultural production in Africa. of the lake. that are not available from other sources. Though, urban population around the Over 100 species of fish have been Lake area declined by 9,489 km2, about recorded from the upper Chari system, In addition, spatial metrics are also used 4% decrease in area, from 1975 through while over 120 species are known from the to objectively quantify and describe the 1990. However in 2000, this category lake itself and the lower reaches of the underlying structures and patterns of the increased by 11,621 km2, about a 5% Chari River. Both the lake and the Chari urban landscape from geospatial data. increase in area, and further increases floodplains support a rich terrestrial and Human intervention and natural from recently .This was blame on the aquatic fauna. The region is also notable processes are responsible for the encroachment of settlements new towns for the Kuri ox, a domesticated breed of constant change in land cover all over after the drought situation evident along Bos taurus longifrons at risk of extinction. the world. Land cover changes is the Cameroonian shore. Lake Chad is on a major migration route for determined by the interaction in space birds moving between Africa and the and time between biophysical and The encroachment of desertification Palearctic. human influences. from the north further encourages southwards migration towards the lake At least 70 species of bird make stopovers Agriculture has always been the and the building of homesteads around each year, especially Pintail Anas acuta, backbone of the regional economy and ancient lake area and around piedmont Garganey Anas querquedula and Ruff continues to engage about 60% of the and dunal lakes for fishing and Philomachus pugnax. Although these basin's population. However, annual agriculture. Water abstraction through numbers are much lower than those average rainfall over the entire basin is large irrigation projects resulted to a reported in the 1960s, they are still rather low at 320 mm and varying water loss and was replaced by urban significant and qualify the lake for inclusion

31 More than 150,000 fishermen live on the in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of areas along the Chari River in Central lake's shores and its islands. Many of International Importance. Lake Chad African Republic , the Logone River in them originate from well beyond the has also been identified as a globally Cameroon, the Kumadugu-Yobe River in riparian region, sometimes from as far as significant Important Bird Area (IBA) Nigeria. The Mega Dam constructed as Ghana. The current estimate of annual according to the criteria developed by part of the SEMRY project, the Rice fish production from the lake is 60,000 to BirdLife International. Other important Development authority project in North 70,000 tonnes. wildlife in the basin include sitatunga Cameroon abstracted water from almost Tragelaphus spekii, African elephant 700 km2 of the Yaere floodplains that small In addition to the direct support for Loxodonta africana, hippopotamus farmers cultivate during the dry season. livelihoods, the lake also plays an Hippopotamus amphibius and important socio-economic role in crocodile Crocodylus sp. regulating annual water supply, Nigeria is presently losing about 31,000 recharging groundwater, and helping to square kilometers of its landmass to the control flooding. However, the precise Land cover/land use desert, which is advancing southward at linkages between environmental and s o c i o - e c o n o m i c Though Sub Saharan Africa systems and their did not reach their MDG t r a n s b o u n d a r y targets where a third of the impacts are still to be population is food insecure d e t e r m i n e d ; f o r and there is an actual instance, the important increase in the number of role of groundwater in hungry people due to rapid the basin. population, it was argued the Lake Chad has being to Since 1975, it was sustainable food production possible to estimate in the area. decreases in the area While projections from of Lake Chad using various sources showing that remotely sensed data. the global food production T h i s L a k e a r e a trend will be positive by 2020, changes was caused food insecurity will be by a number of natural persistent. Sub-Saharan and human motivating Africa is the most vulnerable factors. According to region with respect to food r e p o r t , h u m a n security and it will be the food activities have an insecurity hotspots in 2020. The the rate of 0.6 kilometers annually. The immediate and often radical influence on region's per capita consumption is consistent reduction in rainfall has led to a the lake extent in the region while, natural projected to decline by 0.5 percent per reduction in the natural regeneration rate consequences such as climate change year through the next decade. of land resources, which presents a chain are felt only over a long period of time. of causal reaction that, makes people to By 2018, Sub-Saharan Africa is exploit more previously undisturbed lands Despite these casual factors, population projected to account for 61 percent of leading to depletion of the forest cover and growth has also been identified as the the total gap to maintain consumption increase on the sand dunes and Aeolian main significant human factor in Lake and constitutes 79 percent of the total deposits. Chad. The total population of the five nutritional gap. Most indicators urban areas that make up the Lake Chad examined pointed out to the fact that The question on the lip of every casual drainage basin in 1991 was about 22 food production in Nigeria, especially observer is now, “What happens to the million inhabitants, with an average in the sahel area of Nigeria has not food production in the \adjoining countries density of 22 persons/km2.The range of witnessed a steadily appreciable as the future of the lake remains population density in the riparian growth in the last two decades. Wind uncertain”. Across the drainage basin c o u n t r i e s w a s b e t w e e n 1 . 5 - 3 7 erosion could be quite severe in most agriculture is the main economic activity persons/km2. Sahel states of Sokoto, Zamfara, with the most common crops being cotton, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, groundnuts, sorghum, cassava, millet, rice The population of the drainage basin got a Yobe, Kano, Adamawa and Bauchi as and onion Cotton is the main cultivated rapid growth and now estimates at about a result of drought conditions in the crop in this basin. The majority of farming 40 million people in 2010 with a high area. Climate variability resulting to systems are rain fed with mixed cropping average growth rate of 2.4-2.6%. Thus, drought incidence is not new in the widely practiced. population growth could be the most s a v a n n a h r e g i o n o f N i g e r i a important factor causing change in the considering the fact that some of the lake area dynamics. region, especially the Sahel is Possible causes of Lake Chad susceptible to climatic anomalies. shrinkage An increasing young population structure of particularly the southern riparian So far, the major cities around the lake countries has provides a young labour include N'Djamena, Kano, Maiduguri The Lake Chad basin supports more than force that increases demand for land for a n d M a r o u a , i n a d d i t i o n t o 20 million people. While the local economy cultivation and settlement and trees for urbanization, also witnessed large in the upper part of the catchment is based fuel and construction purposes. Today, irrigation projects are identified with an on fishing, agriculture and pastoralism. the water use in the drainage basin irrigation potential of 1.16 million However, people living around the lake currently includes industrial, agricultural hectares. These large irrigation lack access to safe drinking water and and domestic. projects were undertaken with a view to proper sanitation. agricultural intensification on large

32 Aviation watch

Air Navigational Services are key to the development of aviation industry

In the aviation industry, the reliance on satellite based Communications, Navigation and Surveillance system have changed the traditional pattern of air traffic management enhancing onboard instruments, as well as interchange with satellite systems thereby enabling aircraft to operate in an area of airborne separation systems rather then having to rely on the traditional ground-based controlling systems and fixed airspace routings.

In the old days pilots depended on growth of air traffic requires the crossings. daylight and clear visibility in order to generation of sufficient airspace operate a flight. They used landmarks capacity without jeopardising aviation The introduction of a satellite based such as rail-tracks, rivers and roads, to safety. Various techniques and Communications, Navigation and navigate the aircraft to their final organisational developments have Surveillance and the Air Traffic destination. During these periods, there been implemented and pursued in Management system, aircraft would no was no supporting radio connection from order to provide sufficient capacity to longer have to fly along the pre-defined the ground and controllers at airports, if at meet the air traffic demand. routings, which would boost the available all available, limited their services to the airspace capacity as aircraft could use all waiving of flags or providing guidance At the beginning, the Central Flow remaining airspace as well as breaking through signage and lightning signals to Management Unit has made a big through this traditional pattern. It would provide pilots with particular landing- or contribution to the aviation industry by enable the aircraft operator to define the take-off instructions. enhancing the flow of air traffic. The most efficient routing for their aircraft, process monitors capacity differences, rather than being bound to pre-defined Beginning from the 1930s, airport control delays, conflicts and unused air traffic routings. towers were gradually equipped with control slots on an ongoing basis. radio equipment that allowed direct Based on the outcome of this, air traffic Corporation and Privatisation contact with pilots. Radio aid was control slots are allocated, updated and improved and subsequently also used for re-routings are offered to aircraft of aviation services en-route air navigation services enabling operators in order to avoid overload of pilots to plot their position by using radio particular air navigation sectors as well In most partd of the world, the provision of beacons on the ground. Also, the as unnecessary flight delays. By air navigation services is still carried out by introduction of radar after enabled optimising the use of the available public agencies where staffing and ground personnel to identify and to plot airspace capacity and by offering operational costs were assumed by the the position, heading and air speed of alternatives to aircraft operators the state and subject to administration aircraft. With the improvement of radio Central Flow Management Unit regulation. The provision of air navigation communication, this gradually resulted in safeguards the smooth flow of traffic services was restricted to the portion of a worldwide system of air navigation throughout European airspace. airspace of the state where they were services. domiciled, except for international Another newly emerging technology organizations that were offering cross- Today, air transport plays a major role in that has been used to enlarge the border provision of air navigation services. driving sustainable economic and social available capacity of airspace to the As majority of the world's airlines were development in hundreds of nations. airspace users is the implementation of privatized in recent times, the Since the mid-1970s, air traffic growth Reduced Vertical Separation Minima. liberalisation in the air navigation service has consistently defied economic With this system, aircraft operate along provision became the new trend recessionary cycles, expanding two-fold pre-defined air traffic corridors where worldwide. once every 15 years. In 2012, air ground-based air traffic control ensures transport directly and indirectly a safe separation of aircraft. The In the view of the foregoing, liberalisation supported the employment of 56.6 million system makes it possible to reduce the in the field of air navigation services people, contributing over $2 trillion to vertical separation between aircraft relates to the relaxation of government global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and six additional air traffic corridors restrictions. Of course, the relaxation of and carried over 2.5 billion passengers were introduced which allows more requirements does not involve the and $5.3 trillion worth of cargo. aircraft to fly in the same volume of relaxation of safety requirements. airspace. The total volume of air traffic Today, there were no less than 10 million that can ultimately fly through a single The first reason for shifting the controlled general air traffic flights. The corridor is still limited and there remain responsibility for the operation and safety of air operation is dependent on crossings of particular corridors. This provision of air navigation services to a the availability of reliable communication continues to put a heavy burden on the provider outside the governmental and navigation services. Traffic is ground-based controlling system that structure lies in the increasing financial increasing by three folds each year have to separate aircraft at such strains that many governments face. The compared to the previous year. The growth of air traffic demands an increase

33 in financial resources, by way of border provision of air navigation services Tupolev to climb, which was contrary to investment in new technology, whereby, asY the aircraft, whilst flying through the instructions of the air traffic controller despite the increase of air traffic, high German airspace, had been under the air and, at the same time, the TCAS levels of air navigation safety are traffic control of a Swiss based air instructed the DHL aircraft to descend. maintained. navigation service provider. Because the Airbus's call to the air traffic controller overlapped with the TCAS The air navigation service provider that On other occasions, mid-air collisions report by the Boeing (its crew reporting is outside the governmental structure have been avoided. For example on 18 that it was going to descend) the air traffic are often better equipped to borrow February 2004, two jet-aircraft that were controller did not receive this message. money in capital markets, rather than subject to air traffic control were on a Furthermore, the controller was firm in his the government having to rely on collision course near the French city, belief that the 'descend'-instruction taxpayer. Secondly, by structuring the Rheims. A collision was avoided by the issued to the Tupolev was responded to in provider outside the governmental swift response of the crew of Swiss time and therefore had left the aircraft structure, the air navigation service International Airlines and KLM Royal unattended, concentrating on the Airbus provider would be more transparent and Dutch Airlines. The pilots took evasive operations. The Tupolev was confronted efficient in terms of cost allocation and action based on their on-board Traffic with conflicting information and followed more capable of reducing operational alert and Collision Avoidance Systems. If the air traffic controller instruction to cost. This would also count for labour both aircraft are fitted with the TCAS descend, whereas its TCAS system had costs and staffing levels that under a system and the TCAS detects that the advised it to climb. traditional governmental structure are aircraft are on a potential collision. not affected by market forces. Thirdly, air The air traffic controller had not realised navigation services should no longer be Transnational Navigation that the Boeing had already started to operated through bureaucratic services descend and gave another instruction to organisations that are not able to make the Tupolev to expedite descent. The urgent decisions with respect to, for On the evening of 1 July 2002, two jet latter instruction was given by the air instance, updating technological aircraft collided in mid-air at an altitude of traffic controller, as the crew of the equipment, neither should they be 34.890 feet, around 10.600 meters in the Tupolev had not verbally replied to the challenged with administrative budget airspace over southern Germany. The first air traffic control instruction.18 On the discussions and approval mechanisms accident occurred north of the German Russian cockpit voice recorder, the that are incompatible for meeting the city Überlingen, near Lake Constance, investigators were able to destillate that particular air navigation requirements. and involved a Boeing 757 freighter of the co-pilot pointed out the conflict DHL International Ltd., on its way from between the TCAS warnings and the Navigational accident Bergamo, Italy, to Brussels, Belgium, and instructions of the Skyguide staff. The a Russian charter flight, a Tupolev TU154, TCAS system subsequently advised the The first accident that solely relates to operated by Bashkirian Airlines, which Tupolev to increase climb, increase climb the provision of air navigation services was heading from Moscow, Russia, to but five seconds after this message it involves the collision of a Spanish Barcelona, Spain. The aircraft were flying came to a collision, albeit that at the very chartered Coronado 990 aircraft and a at the same altitude and, as illustrated in last moment the Tupolev crew noticed the DC-9 aircraft from Iberia. On 5 March Figure 1.2 below, approach and collided recognisable Boeing and abruptly tried to 1973 amidst a strike by the civil air traffic at a 90-degree angle. in vain to initiate a climb. Because of controllers in France the aircraft collided automated systems air traffic controllers in mid-air near the French city of Nantes. Based on bilateral arrangements in Germany had noted the collision course The pilot of the Coronado was able to between Switzerland and Germany, the of the aircraft and have tried to notify their land the damaged aircraft, but the DC9 Swiss based air navigation service Swiss colleagues exploded, killing all sixty-eight people on provider, Skyguide, was the provider of air All 71 crewmembers and passengers of board. The French air force, that had navigation services in this portion of both aircraft, of which 49 were children, been providing air navigation services airspace over the South-German territory. were killed. What made the accident even during the strike, denied that there was a Therefore, a Swiss-based air navigation more dreadful was the murder of the link between the accident and the strike. services provider was in charge of the Swiss air traffic controller who was on This mid-air collision has been provision of air navigation services to the duty on the night of the mid-air collision. considered the first European mid-air aircraft involved. Whilst monitoring the He was stabbed to death in 2004 by a collision caused by air navigation two en-route aircraft in German airspace, Russian relative whose wife, son and services. Three years after, on 10 the air traffic controller was at the same daughter had been killed in the aircraft September 1976, there was another time also monitoring a delayed Airbus c r a s h . S k y g u i d e a c c e p t e d f u l l mid-air collision of two aircraft in the a i r c r a f t t h a t w a s a p p r o a c h i n g responsibility for the errors made within its airspace over the former Republic of Friedrichshafen airport. organisation and took immediate Yugoslavia. The accident occurred near The air traffic controller instructed the precautionary safety measures. the small town of Vrbovec, between a Tupolev to descend to 350.000 feet and Furthermore, at the request of Skyguide Trident aircraft of British Airways and a continued his work by concentrating on and together with the governments of DC9 operated by Inex Adria. All crew the Airbus flight operations. The Boeing Germany and Switzerland, Skyguide and passengers, one hundred and and Tupolev were both equipped with created a compensation fund for the seventy-six people, were killed. As the airborne Traffic Alert and Collision financial relief of the bereaved. Payments accident occurred whilst the aircraft Avoidance Systems and at the same time would be made for loss of income, were under air traffic control from the that the air traffic controller was including additional compensation, on the Zagreb-based air navigation service monitoring the flight operations of the assumption and in accordance with provider, the accident is commonly Airbus, the airborne Traffic alert and standards that would have been applied if referred to as the Zagreb mid-air Collision Avoidance Systems alerted the the relatives had been based in collision. In the evening from 1-2 July crew of the Boeing and the Tupolev that Switzerland bearing a Swiss nationality. 2002, there was a mid-air collision in the they were flying on intersecting flight There are reports that the compensation airspace over southern Germany. In paths. fund has paid out one hundred and fifty contrast to the previous mid-air thousand US dollars per deceased. collisions, this accident involved cross- The TCAS instructed the crew of the

34 Aviation

Despite challenging environment, Ethiopian aviation industry keep its pace in Africa

As Leonardo da Vinci said: 'When once perfect their services, and gain market bank for GBP8.5 million. With those you have tasted flight, you will forever share. funds, EAL established its self-owned walk the earth with your eyes turned Ethiopian aviation industry involves maintenance facility, added to its fleet, skyward, for there you have been, and millions of dollars in the world market and and expanded the route network to there you will always long to return'. has permitted the development of many Athens and Frankfurt. cities, where the economy revolves In the 'global village' age, international around its airport. In the 1960s, EAL added Accra and flights undoubtedly serve as the lifeline of Monrovia to its destination network, world economies. Aviation industry is the Originally operating only domestic flights, becoming the first airline linking East and backbone of the tourism industry that is Ethiopia Airline, EAL quickly expanded to West Africa through direct flights. Around the most rapidly growing industry offer international flights in 1946. The first this time, Bole International Airport, the worldwide. landing rights negotiations were with country's largest airport was built to Aden, Egypt, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and accommodate the larger Boeing 720 Tens of millions of jobs are offered by this Sudan. The first revenue-generating jetliner. EAL operated its first jet services industry directly and indirectly by its air mixed passenger-cargo flight traveled to in 1963, travelling to Nairobi, Madrid, transportation supply chain involving Cairo, using one of five Douglas C-47 Asmara, and Athens. In 1965, the airline a i r p o r t s , a i r l i n e s , a e r o s p a c e Skytrains acquired from the USA. The changed from a corporation to a share manufacturers, air navigation providers predominant destinations during EAL's company and changed its name from and so on. With safe flights service, first year were Asmara, Djibouti, Aden, Ethiopian Air Lines Corporation to human beings can enjoy the global Khartoum, Cairo, Sheikh Othman, and Ethiopian Airlines. cultural and entertainment experiences, Nairobi. In 1947, EAL began conducting much easier than their ancestors. long-haul flights, with service to Bombay. In 1982, Ethiopia Airline became the first Aviation moves people and products African airline to order the Boeing 767 worldwide — quickly and safely. Ethiopian Airline's close working and the Boeing 767-200ER. EAL made relationship with US' Transcontinental and history in 1984 when it set a new Aviation contributes to our life; enable us Western Alliance TWA, gave the airline a distance record for a twin jet, flying 7,500 to visit different people, to travel, to solid start. It benefited immensely from the miles non-stop from Washington, D.C., experience new places, to identify the services of American pilots, technicians, to Addis Ababa. In 1996, Ethiopia Airline regions of the world. administrators, and accountants at the was servicing the Bangkok, Beijing, New beginning. The existence of the Imperial York, Durban, Johannesburg, Abidjan, In Africa, Ethiopia is arguably the Ethiopian Air Force at its formation, with Dakar, Maputo, and Copenhagen continental leader in the air Transport trained manpower serving the nation, laid markets. EAL introducing a frequentflyer Services sector, with her first airline the foundation for manning the airlines programme, Sheba Miles, in 1996. founded in 1945, with national staff members. From 1971 onwards, however, the airline decided to In the 2000s, Ethiopia Airline began a it presently operates a fleet of 77 operate without any foreign involvement, renewal of its fleet. The airline aircrafts, and travels to more than 91 and it appointed its first Ethiopian CEO. introduced a strategic plan, Vision 2010, destinations at the moment across From that year onwards, the airline has in 2005, which aimed to increase Africa, Europe, the Americas, the Middle continued to improve in terms of number passenger traffic to 3 million, revenue to East, and Asia. It also serves 20 of trained personnel and numbers of USD1 billion, and employees to 6,000, domestic routes, operates domestic aircraft, domestic airports, and by 2010. routes within Ethiopia; a wide global international destinations. cargo network; maintenance, repair, and In 2008, it collaborated with Ecobank overhaul services; and an aviation In 1950, Ethiopia Airline secured a USD1 and private investors to establish ASKY, academy. The first mover advantage in million loan from Ex-Im Bank to expand a regional airline operating throughout Africa has also allowed EAL to gain brand the fleet for additional long-haul service. In West Africa. Ethiopia Airline functions as recognition, establish customer loyalty, 1957, EAL took another loan from Ex-Im the technical and strategic partner and

35 African report

holds a 40% stake in ASKY. By 2010, and other domestic locations, producing EAL had exceeded all the goals set in revenue estimated as USD101 million continent. Vision 2010, and adopted a new annually. strategic plan known as Vision 2025 with Boli International Airports even more aggressive goals. Multi-Hub Operation Strategy Nowadays, airports are not merely airports. They have transformed Market Structure Ethiopian Airline’s multi-hub strategy is themselves into focal points of economic currently being implemented through and business activity zones, as well as in International passenger traffic is the airline's partnerships with two vital centers of logistics and distribution. In essential to economic survival of the regional carriers, ASKY and Malawian Ethiopia, the airport industry is constantly Ethiopian Airline, as it provides jobs, Airlines. ASKY Airlines commenced undergoing periods of transformation facilitates trade and investment, and operations in 2010 to meet the growing increasing its levels of competition in the raises a country's global profile. As Africa demand for air transport in West and aviation market. becomes a larger player in the global Central Africa. EAL currently owns over economy, international passenger traffic 40% of ASKY, while the rest is held by Ethiopian Airline operates four continues to rise. The African middle Ecobank, the ECOWAS Bank for international airports most notably Addis class has grown considerably and it Investment and Development, and Ababa Bole International Airport, and eight demands air transport services for B a n q u e O u e s t - A f r i c a i n e d e domestic airports. business and leisure purposes. Développement. ASKY is based at What comes to airports, they are the Furthermore, the real cost of air travel Lomé Airport in Togo. The airline has a essential nodes of the air transport system, has fallen significantly, making it more fleet of 7 aircraft and operates more than just like the sea ports are nodes in the sea accessible for the general population. 200 flights a week to 22 destinations transport system. From the region point of throughout West and Central Africa. view, the airport has become a main driver Thanks to online bookings, customers of regional economic growth. can compare services available to them, ASKY is the second largest carrier in meaning services offered by airlines. West Africa. However, in order to In the aviation industry, time is the most The low-cost air transport industry is support traffic growth, Lomé Airport is crucial issue in air transport industry, highly price sensitive and most often undergone an expansion and always connected with the quality of consumers seek the most economic way modernisation project valued at transportation. For air transport mode, to travel, the loyalty is low. The price USD150 million. The project included short delivery time is the biggest sensitivity increases the buyer power. construction of a new terminal and competitive advantage. How to maximize However, the large number of customers taxiways, installation of aerobridges, the use of this advantage is the top task of acts to reduce buyer power, since expansion of the cargo capacity, and air transportation service providers. airlines do not feel the impact of losing an strengthening of the runway. individual customer. Ethiopian Airports are the key part of air transport infrastructure, the start and end Ethiopia welcomes approximately In 2013, EAL took a 49% stake in point of the air transport process and also 500,000 international visitors annually, Malawian Airlines; remaining shares are the place of transit. The airport is the place, and these numbers are expected to rise held by the Malawian government and where the users of the air transport interact by 18% annually. The growth in private investors. The Joint Venture (JV) with the services provided by the individual international visitors can be attributed to in the East Central African airline is a and corporate organisations. It provide rising interest in Ethiopian investments, relaunch of the national carrier. EAL the entire infrastructure needed to enable the increase in conference tourism, the provided two aircraft to Malawian passengers and freight to transfer from emergence of Ethiopia as a tourist Airlines as part of the deal. surface modes of transport to air modes of destination, and the growing trend of transport and allow airlines to take off and diaspora Ethiopians visiting the country. Ethipian Airline Line CEO Tewolde land. The Ethiopian airport has continue to Another prevalent trend in international Gebremariam has stated that the JV is a bring together a wide range of facilities and passenger traffic in Ethiopia is a new model for cooperation amongst African services to fulfil their role within the air focus on Asia and the Middle East as carriers to develop an air transport transport industry. travel destinations and passenger services market to compete with foreign sources. The Middle East and Asia traffic carriers (CAPA 2013). Malawian Airlines These services include air navigation is growing at a higher rate than North began operations on January 31, 2014, services, meteorological services, American and European traffic. with a fleet of twoaircraft and operates security, fire and rescue services, police 20 flights weekly to 6 destinations in and custom services, maintenance Ethiopia's international passenger Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, services, handling facilities, fuel services services account for the largest Zambia, and Tanzania. and commercial facilities including shops, component of air transport revenue, with restaurants, hotels, conference services. revenue over USD1.3 billion, while its The market analysis has revealed, that In addition to Ethiopian Airline, operating domestic flight revenue, is approximately the international airport market in international, regional, and domestic USD116 million annually. Ethiopia is dominated by the Bole passenger and cargo flight services, there Airport that generates the highest are 15 other international airlines providing Cargo and mail services are the second- number of passenger and cargo passenger and cargo services into and out largest component of air transport transport, respectively. of Ethiopia. Currently, the cargo service is services revenue. EAL operates a cargo also proving to be one of the core network extending to more than 22 Like its relationship with the businesses of the industry contributing destinations, and transports the Transcontinental and Western Alliance, 15% of airline's revenue with six dedicated country's national and international mail. Ethiopian Airline sees this system of aircrafts for this specific service. There are With these services, EAL generates building African hubs as a means to win 6 to 7 domestic airlines that mainly operate approximately USD404 million annually. international passenger traffic beyond charter flight services in country and The domestic airlines also provide cargo its base in Addis Ababa and take occasionally operate flights on short-haul services, mostly between Addis Ababa advantage of the economic growth and regional trips. increased passenger traffic across the

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