Arianespace recently successfully boosted the first ever Pan-African communications satellite - RASCOM-QAF1, a news release transmitted by the Department of State for Communication and Information Technology has revealed.

Built by Thales Alenia space under a turnkey contract from Rascom-QAF, the Rascom-QAF1 satellite has a design life of 15 years. It will provide telecommunications services especially to rural areas in Africa as well as inter-urban and international phone links, direct TV broadcast and internet services. It will also provide Band Lease Services.

Based on a Spacebus 4000B3 platform, this powerful spacecraft carries 12 ku-band transponders and eight C-band transponders. The satellite is positioned at 2.85 degrees east.

The director general of ArianeSpace was in a delighted mood: “We are particularly very proud of launching the first Pan-African Satellite, Rascom QAF1 which the operator, Rascom-QAF will use to offer a broad array of dedicated communications services to all of Africa, on behalf of the inter-governmental organisation Rascom which groups 45 African countries and one non-signatory shareholder.  By this successful launch, Arianespace has established a long-standing relationship of mutual confidence with this mission’s customers.”

All the African financial institutions which have participated in financing the Rascom project were represented at the launch event to see the launch of the first ever Pan-African satellite system, including the Libyan African Investment Portfolio, (LAIP), the African Development Bank (ADB), the Bank of West African Development (BOAD), and the Bank of Central African Development (BDEAC). “Rascom has been greatly honoured by their presence at the launch by an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana,” the release stated.

Expressing joy immediately after the launch, Dr Jones A Killimbe, director general/CEO of Rascom said “this is an African dream come true which has been made possible through being able to believe in our ourselves that together we can always make it.”

The Gambia

According to the Department of State for Communications and Information Technology, The Gambia currently has an investment share of US$1.113,594 and owns 2.6% of Rascom.

The Gambia ranks 10th in terms of investment shares out of the 45 African countries and is a board member. The project will bring about technology transfer, training and employment.

Meanwhile works on the two network operating centres for the newly launched satellite will commence this year and The Gambia and Cameroon will host the centres.

Rascom, is an inter-governmental, commercial satellite organisation. African governments and telecommunications operators pooled their efforts with a view to providing the African continent with telecommunications infrastructure based on satellite communications technology, not only leading to a global response for all telecommunications requirements identified in Africa, but more specifically to provide telecommunications services at very low costs, thus making universal service a reality in Africa.

Rascom has a membership of 45 African countries as of now and one non-signatory shareholder and other remaining African countries shall join soon.