Gateway Communications, which describes itself as a supplier of pan-African telecoms services, has provided Mauritian mobile operator Emtel with a connectivity solution for the islands of Agalega and Rodrigues in the Republic of Mauritius. News journal BizCommunity reports that under the contract, Gateway will supply its satellite-based cellular backhaul solution – CellDirect – to provide residents on the island with access to reliable and effective mobile communications. CellDirect is used to directly connect otherwise remote base transceiver stations (BTS) and is considered a sensible and low-cost solution when addressing lower traffic density areas.
Rodrigues Island lies 550km northeast of Mauritius with a population of about 35,000, while Agalega Island lies 1,122km north and has a population of less than 300 people. Both islands are self-sustaining but frequently experience weak links and service outages brought about by inclement weather. Emtel, which is 50% owned by Millicom International Cellular (MIC) through its wholly owned Millicom Mauritius Limited unit, approached Gateway Communications for a potential solution, which would deliver the most efficient voice and data connectivity to the residents of these islands.