Installation of new sites continues throughout 2024 in Nigeria, DRC, Cameroon, Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Benin and Rwanda.
Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) has revealed the activation of its first AMN base station, utilising LEO backhaul from SpaceX’s Starlink. The move follows AMN’s 2023 agreement with SpaceX to employ Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, to link AMN’s 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 sets the stage for AMN’s forthcoming rollout of 5G services, anticipated by the end of 2024.
AMN initiated the deployment of rural base stations in Nigeria in 2018, currently operating 1600 base stations nationwide. Yebu became the inaugural rural community connected through AMN’s solar-powered base station, situated roughly 80km from Abuja. Predominantly agrarian, Yebu boasts a local market where farmers vend their produce.
Since its connection in November 2018, AMN has facilitated over 9m voice minutes in Yebu, witnessing significant growth in 2022 and 2023 post-BTS upgrade to AMN’s proprietary radio node (ARN).
Salihu, representing the Yebu community, said: “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, continuing 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.
