In Congo-Brazzaville and the DRC, vast areas remain without terrestrial Internet coverage. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology often represents the only solution to connect isolated sites, mining camps, oil base camps and rural agencies.
What is VSAT?
VSAT is a satellite communication system that uses a small dish antenna (60 cm to 2.4 m diameter) to establish a bidirectional Internet link via a geostationary satellite.
How does it work?
- Your VSAT antenna sends data to the satellite (36,000 km altitude)
- The satellite retransmits to a ground station (hub) connected to the Internet
- The response travels back the same way
Typical latency is 500 to 700 ms (round trip), which is acceptable for web browsing, emails and even VoIP with adapted codecs.
VSAT solutions for Congo
Ku-band VSAT
- Speed: 2 to 20 Mbps download, 512 Kbps to 5 Mbps upload
- Antenna: 1.2 m to 1.8 m
- Advantage: moderate cost, good Central Africa coverage
- Ideal for: remote offices, rural bank branches
Ka-band VSAT (high throughput)
- Speed: 10 to 100 Mbps download
- Antenna: 60 cm to 1.2 m (smaller)
- Advantage: high speeds, quick installation
- Ideal for: temporary sites, construction camps, events
Transportable VSAT
Plug-and-play solution deployable in less than 30 minutes. Ideal for:
- Mobile field teams
- Emergency interventions
- Temporary construction sites
- One-off events
Use cases in Congo
Oil sector
Oil companies operating in the Kouilou basin use VSAT to connect their base camps and offshore platforms. CEC TELECOM handles installation and maintenance of these critical links.
Mining sector
Mining sites in remote regions of Congo need reliable connectivity for remote supervision, headquarters communication and logistics management.
Banking sector
Rural bank branches use VSAT to access central systems and offer banking services to remote populations.
VSAT installation by CEC TELECOM
Our installation process includes:
- Site survey: checking satellite line of sight, choosing antenna location
- Sizing: link budget calculation, antenna size selection
- Installation: antenna mounting, satellite pointing, connection
- Testing: signal verification (Eb/No), speed test, quality of service
- Training: equipment usage, basic troubleshooting procedures
Power supply for remote sites
VSAT sites in rural areas often require autonomous power. CEC TELECOM offers complete solar kits (panels + lithium batteries + controller) sized to power VSAT equipment and workstations.
Conclusion
VSAT remains the go-to solution for connecting remote areas of Congo. With new Ka-band technologies and compact antennas, costs have decreased significantly in recent years.
Contact CEC TELECOM for a personalized study of your satellite connectivity needs.
