Satellite technology as a fast, high-quality component of South Africa's corporate communication mix, is set for takeoff now that telecommunications regulations are being eased, says Roy Ingle, regional director, Africa, for satellite owner-operator Europe*Star.

"While satellite technology was not specifically discriminated against in terms of the existing regulations, the obligation to deal exclusively through Telkom made it a costly and bureaucratic procedure. Many corporate communication specialists chose to dodge adding satellite to the mix because this extra hurdle drained value from the solution."

This is also the time for communication service integrators to liberate their thinking and be more imaginative about how they can expand their client offerings to include satellite technology, he says.

"For far too long they have restricted their thinking to their understanding of what Telkom would allow and charge, and often felt it was too much of a hassle to include satellite. Those integrators that liberate their thinking in sync with the relaxation of the restrictions will find a dynamic market opening up for them.

"The major boost to satellite communications within southern Africa is allowing Value-Added Networks to build client networks using the most cost-effective telecommunications components available on the open market.

"For too long the implementation of the best communications solutions have been inhibited by the heavy hand of an over-regulated market. VANs can now deal directly with satellite companies, rather than having to buy the facility through Telkom. This not only accelerates the time to implement because there are fewer entities involved in the process, it also brings down the costs."

Communications minister Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri announced that there would be major liberalisation of some telecommunications regulations from February 2005.

Ingle maintains that major beneficiaries of satellite communications are enterprises that need to communicate with branches around southern Africa and to remote areas where there is no terrestrial-based communications network. Cellular and satellite technologies are ideal to reach these places.

The costs of the VSAT hardware needed for satellite communications have steadily decreased during the past few years and, with the easing of the regulations, southern Africa can now afford to benefit from world-class communication technologies.