GLOBAL BROADBAND SOLUTION

AFRICA GLOBAL BROADBAND SOLUTION

Reconstructing connectivity in the DRC and beyond

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oined in 1989, the World Wide Web has already gone down as one of the most transformative developments of mankind in the modern era, enabling unrivalled exponential progress.

Nevertheless, while the internet’s endless canopy has continued to bear fruits, recent reports have suggested that only half of the world’s population currently have access to it, with many in less developed regions, including a number of African nations, still awaiting its arrival.

While 4G was commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden in 2009, only roughly three quarters of African countries are expected to have launched their own 4G LTE networks by the beginning of 2019, a whole decade later.

However, this is not to say that the African market is not ripe with telecommunication-centric opportunity.

The continent has seen the fastest growth rates in internet penetration across the world throughout 2018, up 20 percent compared to 2017, and many companies, like Global Broadband Solution (GBS), are relishing the task of bringing the region up to speed.

TRANSFORMING

Telecommunications From fibre optic to satellite, Global Broadband Solution is helping to reconstruct connectivity around Africa Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Kane Weller

“For me, the telecommunications market in Europe was getting a bit boring,” states Peter Deneyer, the Company’s Commercial Director.

“Meanwhile, Africa offers a fantastic challenge. It is still early days for telecom developments in many countries across the continent, and with internet it’s much of the same.”

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have since expanded into a range of new segments, now looking to become a champion of fibre optic developments.

GBS has built a strong reputation over the years, providing nationwide internet and intranet solutions to the likes of Central Bank and SEP (the national petrol distribution company). In order to achieve this, it has used a mixture off all the available technologies, including Vsat, WiMAX, Upping the ante Operating out of Democratic Republic microwave and fibre optics.

“Satellite is still running at low of Congo, GBS has experienced speeds and proving to be very rapid growth in the 14 years since its expensive, and this is what we are inception, largely facilitated by its commitment to maintaining its revered aiming to address through the creation corporate values. of our own fibre optic network,” says Deneyer.

From its data centre services to its Emphasising quality over quantity, fibre optic network developments to this reputation can largely be its continued use of VSAT technologies, attributed to the Company’s strategy, the firm has established and retained a reputation of excellence throughout its raising the bar by providing adaptable broadband solutions. relatively short but illustrious history.

“Our main differentiator is our “We are considered to be one of commitment to quality, consistency, the early players in African internet customer service and tailor-made solutions,” explains Deneyer. “Having solutions,” Deneyer continues. started with our Wimax license we For GBS and Deneyer, the aim is to channel its industry expertise into both creating and deploying innovative telecommunication solutions that will continue to revolutionise the African market.

“Internet is like water or electricity in the modern day,” he adds. “It’s not only considered to be a basic necessity, but also a key indicator of progress.”

PETER DENEYER As Commercial Director of Global Broadband Solution, Deneyer is responsible for all things commercial at the Company, from its customer service operations to its international outlook.

He studied as a telecommunications engineer in Belgium, beginning his career at Bell Telephone (now known as Alcatel). Since then, Deneyer has worked for a number of leading global telecommunications firms including Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens.

At Siemens, he was inspired to direct his career towards African telecommunications development, helping to oversee the implementation of key infrastructure for mobile operators during his time in Johannesburg.

From here, Deneyer began to become more readily involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), now having been stationed in the country for six years while working for Global Broadband Solution.

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SOTRAD Sotrad’s primary activity is import-export.

Thanks to its experience in this area and a solid network of international contacts, its purchasing and logistics departments can also satisfy all needs in terms of trade, such as furniture and equipment, electronic and computer equipment, spare parts and tools.

The Company’s two Belgian logistics platforms located at Brussels airport and the port of Antwerp enable export of goods to anywhere in Africa within extremely short deadlines.

T +32 2 379 30 42, +32 2 379 30 45 E sales@sotrad.be

www.sotrad.be “Other providers and those in the mobile segment are not always as flexible, concentrating more on the mass market rather than the individual needs of large corporations. This is where we excel and specialise, meeting the expectations of each and every one of our customers.”

A sound ethos

Through this approach, GBS has become a one-stop internet solutions shop for many large corporations and governmental bodies, renowned for its esteemed services throughout DRC. Further, positioning itself as a quality vendor within the telecommunications space, the Company has been able to cultivate a number of strategic partnerships that have broadened its reach, working with the biggest international telecom players.

“It’s difficult to penetrate new markets if you don’t have existing customers, particularly when large mobile providers are equally expanding

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their services more substantially to the mass market,” Deneyer continues.

“To this end, we have recognised that it is important that we offer bespoke services to large corporations, and our international partnerships enable us to enter lucrative markets through these offerings.

“Further, in order to continue our international expansion, GBS will open soon a new point of presence in Lagos, Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, within DRC itself, the firm has taken a similarly strategic approach to its local expansion, with its offices located in key regions across the country.

“We’re headquartered in Kinshasa, the capital, but we’re also based in Lubumbashi, a key mining region; in Kisangani in the centre of the country; in Goma, close to Rwanda and where many diamond mines can be found; in Matadi, the port town; and in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic

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Providing a platform

Renowned as a technological enabler and innovator, GBS’s role extends We offer special broadly outside of the corporate packages to telecommunications sphere, evident startup companies, in its extensive involvement in local communities and initiatives. providing them Recognising the need for education, with things the Company partners with a number of universities throughout like responsive DRC, providing free and specialised communication broadband packages, whilst also sponsoring competitions that allow platforms and innovative students to showcase their cloud space...” talents.

“Alongside our work with universities, we also participate in of Congo,” adds Deneyer. startup incubators,” explains Deneyer.

Logically expanding its presence “Efforts are being made to get DRC on all frontiers in this way, GBS has into the digital world, and in the aim allowed all aspects of its telco portfolio of playing our part in this we offer to flourish, bringing leading fibre optic special packages to startup companies, networks to corporations on a global providing them with things like scale and providing rural areas with responsive communication platforms alternative yet reliable connections. and cloud space, for example.”

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This programme extends to B2B events across the country where GBS often partners with both organisers and attendees, providing anything from its own expertise and advice to free wi-fi hotspots.

Empowering the people

These attitudes to facilitating local development are reflected within GBS’s staffing strategies where the firm employs local people as often as possible.

Paying its workers well above the minimum wage threshold and offering medical aid to both its employees and their families, GBS readily provides its people with the platform to learn,

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grow and progress with a good quality of life and extensive development opportunities.

“We like to say that our CSR is extended to our own staff,” Deneyer reveals.

“Unemployment is very high in DRC, so by offering market-leading welfare and ensuring our staff earn a reasonable living, we can ensure that multiple families and communities benefit from the work that our Company is doing.”

What’s more, the firm played a key role in helping to combat the Ebola crisis.

Providing NGOs with reliable internet connections, GBS was able

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to play a crucial role in curbing the expect to see a telecommunications endemic, ensuring that it could be boom in 2019 in line with this.” combatted as effectively and efficiently GBS is launching its own highas possible. speed satellite service with a high throughput satellite to provide high New projects, same approach speed at much lower costs. This will be As we move towards 2019, for GBS, it is used to provide remote communities expected to be a defining year. with better internet connections at Inter-city fibre optic connections are extremely competitive prices. currently not in place in the DRC, However, as GBS continues to but the coming months will see this push the boundaries with exciting becoming a reality – something that new projects, Deneyer hopes that Deneyer has recognised that the firm it continues to excel by remaining must ready itself for. committed to its overriding strategy “We are expecting such that has been so crucial in helping it to developments to happen soon,” achieve the success that it has done he explains. “There is a lot of focus to date. surrounding inter-city fibre and we can He concludes: “I have to reiterate

that our vision is to be the preferred supplier in DRC. We don’t want to be the biggest, this is not our focus.

Ultimately, we want to maintain our emphasis on quality and build on our consistency, transforming telecommunications throughout both the DRC and the wider world.”

Global Broadband Solution Tel: +243 808 808 800 sales@gbs.cd www.gbs.cd

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799 Avenue de l’Equateur Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Tel: +243 808 808 800 sales@gbs.cd www.gbs.cd

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