- Africa’s leading satellite broadband service YahClick officially launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- YahClick will give customers access to reliable, cost-effective, high performance Internet connectivity
- Yahsat has partnered with Service Partners XIT sarl and Castor Networks RDC to offer YahClick services nationwide
Kinshasa - THE DRC, 17 September 2018 – Yahsat, the UAE-based global satellite operator, officially launched its satellite broadband service, YahClick, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company also announced its partnership with regional broadcast and Internet service providers XIT sarl and Castor Networks RDC. The announcement comes on the side-lines of the 4th edition of Sultani Makutano of which Yahsat are Platinum sponsors.
The arrival of YahClick through Yahsat’s latest service partnership extends the benefits of reliable, cost-effective, high-performance Internet to Africa’s second largest nation. The service will bring a new era of high-speed Internet, directly impacting the social and economic growth prospects across The DRC.
The DRC’s Internet and communication sector has remained largely overlooked for decades, as subscription options to the country’s available Internet services are few and expensive. Sixty percent of the country’s population lives in rural settlements where several technological and infrastructural challenges hamper the country’s growth. Reports suggest that only 6.2 percent of the 84 million people in The DRC have access to the Internet*. Such low Internet penetration figures suggest a major barrier to the social and economic development the nation aspires to achieve. Reportedly, more than 40 percent of local businesses continue to function while offline, resulting in a drop in GDP growth from 9.4 percent in 2014 to 3.7 percent in 2017**.
Although The DRC has been slow in embracing digital expansion, the arrival of YahClick indicates exciting growth potential in the Congolese market. Using the Ka-band frequency powered by High Throughput Satellite (HTS) spot beam technology, YahClick’s dependable Internet services will empower public and private organizations to unlock their full potential. The service opens up new opportunities to boost the economy by countering the obstacles that have held back DRC-based industries, particularly the telecommunications and banking sectors that now have an opportunity to accelerate their growth.
“Dependable, high-performance Internet connectivity is a catalyst for social and economic progress globally,” commented Farhad Khan, Chief Commercial Officer at Yahsat. “With low Internet penetration and a history of connectivity disruption, The DRC demonstrates a clear need for YahClick’s reliable and high-speed service. This latest launch follows the successful delivery of YahClick in Ghana earlier in September, and we’ll continue to expand into new African markets with the backing of our valued service partners such as XIT sarl and Castor Networks RDC here in The DRC”.
Castor Networks RDC and XIT sarl have been leading Internet service providers in the The DRC for over 5 years. The company has gathered unparalleled expertise ICT, making high-speed Internet connectivity available for millions of consumers and businesses, including educational, medical and commercial institutions
Yaron Peled, Country Manager at Castor Networks RDC commented: “We are pleased to bring YahClick connectivity to The DRC as we bolster our strong presence in Central Africa and reinforce our confidence in the country’s ongoing economic recovery. This partnership highlights our commitment to bringing all the benefits of new digital services to the masses, and through Ka-band’s high reliability, we can seamlessly spread connectivity in the country.”.”
General Manager at XIT sarl Jimmy Lufimpu added: “Working shoulder to shoulder with Yahsat, we look forward to leading the digital transformation of our nation by extending broadband penetration through YahClick. Our motive is to break down the technological barriers affecting major sectors of our economy, while connecting with a larger customer base to deliver reliable and affordable data.”
Yahsat launched its flagship service, YahClick, in Africa in 2012. It was the first operator to introduce HTS Ka-Band satellite broadband technology to the continent through Yahsat’s Al Yah 2 satellite. Following the successful launch earlier this year, and the recent commercial readiness of the company’s third satellite Al yah 3, YahClick’s footprint has extended to 19 additional markets in Africa, including Ghana.
The expansion is part of Yahsat’s commitment to deliver affordable, reliable and high-speed Internet connectivity to unserved and underserved parts of the world.
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Source:
* The World Bank Open data https://data.worldbank.org/country/congo-dem-rep?view=chart
** The World Bank 2018 Doing Business Report
About Yahsat
Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions (government and commercial) for broadband, broadcast, government, and communications use across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe in addition to Central and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer multi-purpose Ka-band satellite services including:
YahClick - offers broadband satellite solutions for home and business
Yahsat Government Solutions - offers managed solutions and government capacity
YahLink - offers IP trunking solutions, corporate networking and backhauling capacity
Yahlive – a joint venture between Yahsat and SES, offers premium services to broadcasters and a select choice of TV channels
Yahsat’s first satellite Al Yah 1 was successfully launched in April 2011, and the company’s second satellite Al Yah 2 was successfully launched in April 2012. With its third satellite, Al Yah 3, launched on January 25th 2018, the commercial Ka-band coverage has extended to an additional 19 markets reaching 60% of Africa’s population and over 95% of Brazil’s population, marking the company’s first entry into Brazil.
For more information visit:
Press and media enquiries:
Ismail Dawwas
idawwas@yahsat.ae
