Belgian firm partners with local companies to offer financial, school broadcast services

NAIROBI, KENYA: Belgian firm SatADSL is set to provide financial and school broadcasting services with Internet connectivity to remote areas in Kenya and Uganda using satellite technology.

The company has partnered with Indigo Telecom in Kenya and Uganda's Maisha Network to enable banks with microfinance institutions to install Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as well as provide money transfer services.

SatADSL's Business Development Director Michel Dothey said the company would be offering small VSAT equipment with dish that cost about Sh43,000 ($500) to help commercial banks and money transfer firms expand branch network in remote places.

"VSAT equipment linked to the satellite will increase financial services penetration by being connected to ATMs in rural areas in Kenya and Uganda. This will be expanded to Tanzania and Ethiopia soon," he said. East Africa has limited terrestrial telcoms coverage outside of urban areas where the population is less dense. Telecommunication links where available may not be as reliable as needed by professional users.

Mobile phone operators are setting pace of providing low-cost banking putting pressure on banks to embrace technology but also be innovative through customer oriented corporate culture and service delivery. Mr Dothey said a small VSAT equipment can be configured for ATM, corporate networks connectivity, money transfer and virtual private networks applications in areas not served by the national electricity grid.

"VSAT equipment powered by a small solar panel provides real-time ATM and money transfer transactions on real-time basis by running less than 30 watts of electricity. A laptop consumes about 70 watts of power," he said.