This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18333727#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Remote parts of Congo may soon get mobile coverage | Remote parts of Congo may soon get mobile coverage |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Remote rural communities of Congo may soon have mobile coverage, thanks to an international collaboration. | Remote rural communities of Congo may soon have mobile coverage, thanks to an international collaboration. |
| Pan-African telecom provider RascomStar-QAF, Viasat and UK-based ip.access plan to use href="http://www.ipaccess.com/en/picocells-introduction" >small cells called picocells to ensure coverage even in the Congo's rainforest. | |
| Femtocells are usually used to deliver a private signal in your home if it is outside the coverage area. | Femtocells are usually used to deliver a private signal in your home if it is outside the coverage area. |
| The aim is to install 50 such mini base stations around Congo this summer. | The aim is to install 50 such mini base stations around Congo this summer. |
| RascomStar, the company that operates Rascom-QAF1, the first satellite entirely dedicated to Africa, said it aims to expand the pilot into a larger-scale commercial launch in 2013, extending it to at least 10 other African countries. | RascomStar, the company that operates Rascom-QAF1, the first satellite entirely dedicated to Africa, said it aims to expand the pilot into a larger-scale commercial launch in 2013, extending it to at least 10 other African countries. |
| "Our services were developed to provide affordable universal access telephony in rural and remote areas… together with our partners, we believe that we have designed a service that meets the needs of a region underserved by mobile and indeed fixed telephony," Faraj Elamari, head of RascomStar-QAF, said in a statement. | "Our services were developed to provide affordable universal access telephony in rural and remote areas… together with our partners, we believe that we have designed a service that meets the needs of a region underserved by mobile and indeed fixed telephony," Faraj Elamari, head of RascomStar-QAF, said in a statement. |
| Lack of towers | Lack of towers |
| When the satellite was launched in 2010, one of the goals was to provide the African continent with mobile network coverage. | When the satellite was launched in 2010, one of the goals was to provide the African continent with mobile network coverage. |
| But in many remote and rural parts, people are still unable to use mobile phones simply because of the lack of necessary infrastructure. | But in many remote and rural parts, people are still unable to use mobile phones simply because of the lack of necessary infrastructure. |
| Since mobile communications rely on airwaves to work, once transmissions hit a telecommunications tower, it is up to the wireless networks in the area to ensure coverage. | Since mobile communications rely on airwaves to work, once transmissions hit a telecommunications tower, it is up to the wireless networks in the area to ensure coverage. |
| But in Africa's remote corners, there are simply not enough of these towers - and to solve the issue, the RascomStar-QAF turned to international collaboration. | But in Africa's remote corners, there are simply not enough of these towers - and to solve the issue, the RascomStar-QAF turned to international collaboration. |
| A UK company called ip.access agreed to supply picocells - small access nodes - around Congo, with one gateway in the capital, Brazzaville. | |
| Each cell will then create a private wireless network in a particular area. | Each cell will then create a private wireless network in a particular area. |
| A femtocell is easy to use - and the company says that it could be put up by someone with basic technical knowledge. | A femtocell is easy to use - and the company says that it could be put up by someone with basic technical knowledge. |
| This way, the pico solution would be much simpler and cheaper than having to build new towers and expensive base stations. | |
| "Working closely with our partners we have helped to create an end-to-end system by using our expertise in small cell deployments to bring voice and internet access to previously unconnected parts of the world at a price-point they can afford," said Simon Brown, chief executive of ip.access. | "Working closely with our partners we have helped to create an end-to-end system by using our expertise in small cell deployments to bring voice and internet access to previously unconnected parts of the world at a price-point they can afford," said Simon Brown, chief executive of ip.access. |
| "It's a great project to be part of and we look forward to its expansion into other African countries." | "It's a great project to be part of and we look forward to its expansion into other African countries." |