Linkserve addresses cost, latency with wireless broadband solution

Ben Uzor Jr
Strategically designed to address latency and cost issues associated with internet service delivery in the country, Linkserve Limited, Nigeria’s pioneering Internet Service Provider (ISP) has introduced a novel broadband solution aimed primarily at meeting the connection needs of homes, small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).
Blast Broadband, is an integration of the widely-used terrestrial wireless industry technology with the latest in advanced and proven satellite technology. In addition, the solution is based on Viasat’s Surfbeam Broadband System, a totally new kind of satellite based system designed expressly for building broadband access networks but very unlike Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems.
Chima Onyekwere, chairman, Linkserve Limited who spoke to newsmen in Lagos yesterday observed that downtime constitutes a major challenge in the Nigerian market, adding that the company intends to fully address the issue. This, he stated necessitated huge capital investment into the solution to ensure the highest uptime available in the market at 99.99 percent.
“Most Broadband users want their internet to work every time without failing for each other day or often as most users’ experience. This Hub has capacity to support concurrently over 2 million subscribers. This means more people can easily be served. Linkserve partnered with the two world leaders in Satellite communication, Viasat and Intelsat for the mass roll out of Blast Broadband VSAT solution. Intelsat 14 this has a 54.5db over the region”, Onyekwere posited.
Commenting on the cost effectiveness of the solution, the chairman stated that the launch of the internet solution which costs less than N100, 000 was a distinct way of supporting the local economy in the period of exigent financial limitations. “This is the first in the region, but we are taking this further. We are starting this deployment by making the equipment (CPE) even much lower at N55, 000 for the first 150 subscribers. We feel this is a unique way to support the economy during this period of challenging financial constraints. All these make the solution appealing to small home offices, small businesses, individual homes and lots more”, he added.
In the same vein, Victor Oisaghie, managing director, Linkserve said the solution employs bandwidth efficiency and frequency re-use which allows us to deploy additional customers on the same frequency without any additionally costs. This, he revealed immediately benefits the customers as the pricing of the solution was much lower than what obtains in the market.
“This solution is designed for Corporate, home users and educational institutions with multiple deployments. We have already secured a huge deployment of over 250 units’ pre launch sales programme. Today, Video has become a reality for it to be received through the internet.
“The streaming capacity will enable Churches, distance learning, Educational and institutional organization and religious organizations, reach multiple sites at a very affordable costs. Effectively reducing travelling cost. The solution also provides a platform for many other exciting features and services for the customers including Voice over IP (VoIP), Direct To Home (DTH), Advanced Quality of Service (QoS), Multicasting and accelerated IP/Web-centric applications”, Oisaghie concluded.
Linkserve, since its inception in 1996, has been at the forefront of providing quality connection. The company pioneered internet in Nigeria and has multiple satellite HUBs dedicated to serving the African market with broadband internet, data service and video streaming. The company’s data services are very popular among corporate organisations and its innovative approach to providing connection service is highly acclaimed in the industry being the winner of many awards.