04/12/2024
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SOUTH AFRICA LOOKS TO SPACE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
South Africa is readying itself to join the space race with the National Communications Satellite Strategy, which will be a collaborative project spearheaded by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), the Department of Science and Technology (DSTI), the South African National Space Agency (Sansa), and national signal provider Sentech.
This is an ambitious project aimed at bridging the digital divide, reducing communication costs, and hardening national security. Success, however, relies on securing funding, local skills development, and mitigating potential risks. The departments have worked collaboratively over the past three years to draft the National Communications Satellite Strategy that addresses critical issues of connectivity, technological sovereignty, and economic competitiveness. Patrick Ndlovu, Chairperson of the Sansa board, told the parliamentary portfolio committee that the vision is to shift South Africa from being a net consumer to a net producer and exporter of satellite technology and services. By deploying a national communication satellite, the country aims to extend connectivity, enhance disaster response, and ensure secure national communications. Beyond saving on current satellite service expenditures, the strategy will stimulate local industries, create jobs, and drive technological advancements. Recent feasibility studies, including one by Sentech in 2016, estimate that a national satellite could break even within seven years of its launch.
Source: www.bizcommunity.com
