Angola’s Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS) officially launched the Conecta Angola TV White Space (TVWS) programme on 13 July, introducing a connectivity solution designed to expand internet access to schools and communities in areas with limited conventional telecommunications coverage.
The launch ceremony took place at Complexo Escolar 1024 Lda — formerly known as Pensador 2031 — and at Secondary School No. 1025, both located in the Ramiros district of Luanda, where the technology had already been installed. The event also marked the inauguration of the country’s first computer laboratories equipped with space-based applications.
The computer rooms were fitted out by FADCOM, which supplied the computers and associated equipment, while the applications were developed under Angola’s National Space Programme. The new tools will allow students to explore satellite imagery, use geospatial applications and interact with other technology solutions linked to the space sector, bringing them closer to science, innovation and the professions of the future.
According to MINTTICS, TV White Space technology uses unoccupied television broadcast frequencies to deliver internet access in an efficient, secure and geographically extensive manner, with a potential reach of up to 10 kilometres from the receiving antenna. The solution is presented as a sustainable alternative for bringing connectivity to localities where traditional solutions face technical or economic constraints.
The Conecta Angola TVWS programme combines the capabilities of the ANGOSAT-2 satellite with TV White Space technology to deliver broadband connectivity to remote communities. Under the model, ANGOSAT-2 provides the satellite backhaul link, while TVWS then distributes the internet locally to schools, health facilities, public administrations, businesses and households, covering several kilometres from a single VSAT access point. The approach reduces the number of VSAT stations required and is described by the government as an efficient and scalable pathway to accelerating digital inclusion across the country.
The ceremony was attended by government ministers, representatives of public institutions, technology partners, local authorities, the school community and media outlets, and included a technical presentation of the solution followed by a live demonstration of the connectivity installed at the school. The initiative was coordinated through the Office for the Management of the National Space Programme (GGPEN), which sits within MINTTICS.
Source: Mercado / Original article: mercado.co.ao
