Gateway has upgraded its pan-African network from the original Digital Video Broadcasting Standard for satellite to a second generation system; DVB-S2. Migrating to the new standards allows more efficient use of scarce African satellite capacity and as a consequence significantly improves the commercial position of Gateway in the marketplace.

Gateway has spent the last six months transitioning more than 1,000 customers onto a new network that has dramatically improved speed, security and network reliability. Initially, Gateway’s entire hub infrastructure had to be prepared in order to migrate its customers from the older iDirect Infinity system to the new Evolution DVB-S2/ACM system.

The transition began in West Africa where Gateway’s corporate customers switched across seamlessly, with no service interruption. Extensive independent tests show that DVB-S2 systems can deliver substantial improvements in network uptime through Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), the ability to change encoding parameters in real time.

For customers this means that their service doesn’t drop off during adverse conditions. This is because rather than there being a service outage, there is instead a small drop in bandwidth speed as the coding adapts to the most suitable speed for the conditions.

Upgrading the network has maximized Gateway’s efficiency in utilizing its backbone and bandwidth. This means Gateway can continue to provide the highest quality service level and network availability to its customers in the most effective efficient manner. 

Phil Braden, Group Projects Director commented on the network upgrade, “At Gateway we continually review our technology platforms to look for methods to serve our customers in the best manner possible. Our broad range of services means that we can offer our clients in Africa the right solution for their business with increased efficiency and reduced costs throughout the network. This network upgrade is just one example of how Gateway is building the future of African communications.”

Gateway Communications owns and operates the largest and most advanced pan-African telecommunications network.  Gateway connects over 583 million people in over 40 African countries, working in partnership with the continent’s leading mobile phone operators.