A consortium of 4 companies – Global IP, Boeing, Space X and Hughes Networks – has expressed interest in investing in Uganda in order to provide the country with fast and reliable Internet services through satellite technology.
This was disclosed during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni and a delegation of officials from the consortium who called on him yesterday at State House, Entebbe. The 4 companies are based in the United States of America that have variously specialized mainly in aeronautics and space engineering sciences.
The President and his guests discussed the mode under which the consortium will provide cheap but 100% efficient Internet services throughout the country. The consortium intends to co-invest with the Government of Uganda in satellite technology that is cheaper and reliable. Mr. Museveni and the delegation agreed on the necessity of a study on which the government will derive the necessary information regarding the costs and the way forward.
The delegation of investors, through their leader and Chief Executive Officer of Global IP Broadband Services, Mr. Braham Paourmand, said that satellite Internet technology is not all out to compete with the existing fibre backbone system but rather to compliment it in making it possible to have internet in areas where the fibre backbone system can not reach.
Information, ICT and Communications Minister, Mr. Frank Tumwebaze said the country’s target is to have full connectivity by 2020. The Ministry of Education and Sports and that of Health as well as other government entities, will be key areas to benefit greatly from the satellite technology service.
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