Why has Africa Spent USD 3.6 billion on Communication Satellite?
Communication satellites are beneficial to many different economic sectors and can be used commercially for a variety of purposes, including telecommunications, TV broadcasting, telemedicine, tele-education, mobile satellite services, radio networking, village resource centres, satellite navigation programmes, and satellite news gathering, to name a few.
In Africa, 13 countries have funded and…
Angola, Technical Teams Applauded at SADC Satellite Sharing Project Meeting
Through GGPEN, Angola has been leading the work developed by the SADC government structure's technical teams for the implementation of the Regional Satellite Sharing Project.
On July 25, 2022, Angola attended and led a meeting of the Steering Committee. Dr. Zolana Joao presided over the discussion, which covered the following agenda items:
Recap on relevant recommendations from the SADC…
GGPEN Completes Formation and Assembly of Ka-Band Antenna
GGPEN specialists at the Satellite Mission and Control Center (MCC) in Funda have completed the implementation of the Ka-band antenna that Angola will use during the Angosat-2 Orbit Test period. The work formation and assembly were conducted by a group of Russian specialists, together with the specialist from GGPEN, who had the opportunity to update and acquire new knowledge regarding the…
Africa’s Participation in the 65th Meeting of COPUOS
The 65th meeting of the Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS), held in Vienna from 1 – 10 June 2021, saw global participation, including representatives from African member states, including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, and South Africa, among others.
The General Assembly set up COPUOS in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all…
The Role of Space Technologies to Angola’s Sustainable Development – Dr Zolana João, DG of GGPEN
On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the Angolan Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), in partnership with Internet Technology Angola (ITA), organised the Angola Tech Hub Forum to commemorate the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day.
The forum themed “Angola's Leadership for Digital Transformation in Africa” brought together 200…
The Egyptian Space Programme, a comprehensive analysis
Egypt boasts of one of the most vibrant space programmes on the African continent. With its fleet of nine satellites (including active, inactive and lost), the North African nation has launched the most satellites in Africa. Furthermore, Egypt will also host the headquarters of the recently established African Space Agency. This article analyses several aspects of Egypt’s space programme,…
How Satellite Function Drives Africans to Different Launch Services
This article will explore the relationship between the functions a satellite is launched for and the launch service the satellite-owning country uses. It will discuss the connections between satellite launch centres, satellite orbits, and satellite functions and use them to explain the trend and its reasons.
Relationship between satellite function and satellite orbit
There are several…
GGPEN Experts Complete Training on Large Satellites
Twenty-Five Angolan Management Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN) specialists have completed training in Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of Large Satellites (over 1000 kg of mass). The training held from November 2 to December 3, 2021.
The training modules are according to the needs and challenges of GGPEN in the context of ongoing space activities. Among the various topics,…
Who dominates the African satellite broadband market?
As Africa yearns to transform to a middle income continent, the Internet will be at the centre of realising the dream. Conventionally, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been at the core of broadband delivery in the continent. Recently, the dropping average revenue per user (ARPU) is a challenge to MNOs. They struggle to extend services to rural and remote areas with lower population density.…
MINTTICS Reappoints Dr Zolana Rui João as GGPEN’s Director
The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), Manuel Homem, has reappointed Dr Zolana Rui João as the director of Management Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN). The reappointment happened via a dispatch dated 10 November 2021. Thus, Dr Zolana Rui João will continue managing Angola’s space agency, responsible for implementing the…