Telecom Namibia Explores ANGOSAT-2 Capacity in Strategic Visit to GGPEN
Setting the stage for deeper regional connectivity, the General Manager of the Management Office for the National Space Programme (GGPEN), Dr Zolana Joao, hosted Telecom Namibia’s CEO, Dr Stanley Shanapinda, at its Luanda headquarters this Tuesday. The high-level meeting focused on leveraging ANGOSAT-2’s capabilities to enhance connectivity in Namibia while exploring joint initiatives in satellite technology and Earth observation.
Key Discussion Points
- Migration to ANGOSAT-2 for Enhanced Telecom Services
The primary agenda centred on transitioning Telecom Namibia’s services to Angola’s ANGOSAT-2 satellite, which promises improved coverage and bandwidth for Southern Africa. Both parties agreed to launch a Proof of Concept (PoC) to evaluate the satellite’s performance for Namibia’s connectivity needs, including broadband internet services for remote areas, backhaul solutions to strengthen Telecom Namibia’s network infrastructure and cost-effective alternatives to current terrestrial system dependencies.
- Earth Observation for Smarter Telecom Planning
GGPEN showcased GEDAE—Soluções Inteligentes do Centro de Geodados, the agency’s next-generation geodata centre designed to transform geospatial data collection, storage, analysis, and application. Other products were also presented, including the TECH-GEST platform, which leverages satellite imagery and AI analytics to optimise mobile network deployment. Potential applications include terrain mapping for tower placement and signal propagation analysis, disaster resilience planning to mitigate network disruptions and infrastructure monitoring using remote sensing data.
- Capacity Building & Youth Exchange Programmes
Recognising the importance of skills development, GGPEN and Telecom Namibia discussed structures for potential technical training programmes for Namibian engineers in satellite operations, academic exchanges between Angolan and Namibian universities and joint R&D initiatives to encourage innovation in space-tech applications.