Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) has announced the activation of its first base station, employing low Earth orbit (LEO) backhaul from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. This move follows AMN’s 2023 agreement with SpaceX to utilize Starlink to link its mobile network base stations with high-speed, low-latency broadband services.
By integrating Starlink terminals for low-latency satellite backhaul, AMN can fully leverage the capabilities of its multi-carrier radio access node (the ARN), delivering 3G, 4G, and 2G services while accommodating increasing bandwidth demands from subscribers. The LEO backhaul also paves the way for AMN’s upcoming rollout of 5G services, expected by the end of 2024.
AMN initiated the deployment of rural base stations in Nigeria in 2018 and currently operates 1600 base stations nationwide. Yebu became the inaugural rural community connected through AMN’s solar-powered base station, located approximately 80km from Abuja. Primarily agrarian, Yebu boasts a local market where farmers sell their produce.
Since its connection in November 2018, AMN has facilitated over 9 million voice minutes in Yebu, witnessing significant growth in 2022 and 2023 following the upgrade to AMN’s proprietary radio node (ARN).
Salihu, representing the Yebu community, expressed gratitude, stating: “Yebu community was left behind and blind but the coming of Africa Mobile Networks in 2018 has made us achieve a lot of things like a police division station, 24-hour solar light, and steady communication all over the world. Before then, there was nothing like those things listed.”
AMN advocates for universal access to telecommunication services in communities of substantial size, citing benefits in education, economy, and social integration. With over 4000 base stations deployed across Africa and Latin America, AMN is steadfast in its mission to bridge the digital gap. The company plans to continue installations in Nigeria, DRC, Cameroon, Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Rwanda throughout 2024. Committed to economic viability and parity in service quality, AMN designs and manufactures its own BTS tailored for solar-powered rural sites, alongside offering advanced backhaul solutions to deliver premium connectivity to rural and ultra-rural areas.
