London, 11 Oct (AIM) – The London-based company World Mobile has launched Africa’s first commercial telecoms aerostat in rural Mozambique, increasing the mobile network and providing data for future use.
According to a press release from the company, its blimp-like tethered balloon was launched near the town of Massingir, in the southern province of Gaza, “commencing several weeks of flight operations, enabling World Mobile to gather data sets through the utilization of custom radio payloads”. This data will be used to design the deployment of additional commercial aerostats across Mozambique.
World Mobile states that the internet user rate in Mozambique stood at “a mere 23 per cent of the total population for 2022, an unsurprising but still shocking figure given that almost 62 per cent of its populace live in rural areas”.
It notes that “as with many developing nations, a large proportion of infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas, while a lack of electricity in rural areas means limited power to support internet access”.
World Mobile laments that “this lack of connectivity has a significant impact on access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Meanwhile, almost three-quarters of the unconnected population cannot afford internet services or internet-connected devices such as smartphones and computers, according to the World Bank”.
The company states that “with its launch in Mozambique, World Mobile continues to address this discrepancy by building a mobile network that is accessible, affordable, and sustainable”.
The balloon was inflated and launched on Monday before undergoing a series of tests. On the following day, it was taken up to 300 metres above ground to check the tether drum and handling gear.
The balloon will provide what is known as “last mile connectivity” which refers to the final leg of the telecommunications network. It works like a traditional cell tower but overcomes “the challenges of terrain, infrastructure, and cost that often hinder the expansion of mobile networks”. In terms of coverage, the aerostat offers standard cellular connectivity over a radius of up to 130 kilometres.
According to the company’s chief executive, Micky Watkins, “We are delighted to announce the launch of our first commercial aerostat in Mozambique, a landmark achievement for World Mobile, for Africa and the rest of the world. Our vision is to connect everyone, everywhere while advocating for economic freedom and dignity. With our aerostats, we can profitably bring internet access to millions of people who have been left behind by the digital divide”.
World Mobile praised the regulator, the Mozambique National Communications Institute (INCM), for its positive attitude. Watkins told the financial newspaper “City A.M” that “it was a totally different experience than we’ve had before. The regulator wanted this, and it was just a matter of going through the process because we had all the information they needed, and they were prompt”.
According to the mobile network industry organisation GSMA, globally there are 3.6 billion people – almost half the world’s population – who do not use mobile internet. This includes 400 million people who are not covered by mobile networks at all, half of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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