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In the globalizing world, broadband technology is no longer a result of rapid economic growth, but one of the crucial driving factors of national progress. Many industrialized nations are focusing on their own National Broadband Projects, like Australia and Italy. However, while many developed nations are looking into wide-scale implementations, many states in Sub-Saharan Africa are struggling to bridge the digital divide. Although fibre optics cables and high-tech terrestrial networks are being built, a good 40% of the region remains cut-off from broadband access. Much of Sub-Saharan Africa pose geographic challenges making traditional means of laying out the groundwork for broadband impractical. A study by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation reveals that satellite communications is equally crucial as a complement to the terrestrial networks for a successful broadband project in the region. Over 300 million people remain cut-off from fibre networks. Using satellites, according to the report, will alleviate the inaccessibility issues and open up communications growth in the region. The cost of satellite broadband is slowly being reduced too. After Ku band, the next logical step is the move to a more powerful spectrum known as Ka band. This new spectrum can deliver more capacity at less cost, and also provide increased bandwidth for the increased demand in the continent. Internet from satellite has been seen with the most soci-economic potential which can be implemented on a wide-scale, resolving communications issues faced by remote communications. The CTO is in talks with many African states after the release of its study on how satellite is playing an even more crucial role for broadband access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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