Masai Mara to Get GSM Coverage for Tourists

interWAVE has received a fourth order from Safaricom, a Vodafone affiliated company. Intended to expand its network coverage, Safaricom will deploy interWAVE's network solutions at four individual sites located within the Masai Mara National Reserve, offering roaming services to foreign visitors as well as providing a communications for the indigenous workforce.

"We have again chosen to expand our network in Africa using interWAVE's compact, GSM technology," said Michael Joseph, managing director for Safaricom. "As a result of their speed of deployment and network services, interWAVE enables us to stay ahead of our competition, allowing us to capture high- revenue subscribers. We are pleased to be part of interWAVE's continued expansion in the African market."

To initiate GSM coverage within the Masai Mara, Safaricom will deploy a central hub comprising interWAVE's WAVEXpress BSC (Base Station Controller) together with microwave and satellite communications equipment. Three remote sites, each having an interWAVE WAVEXpress BTS (Base Transceiver Station) will be based at lodges on the Mara.

GSM subscribers will be able to place and receive calls while at the lodges, but coverage area will be carefully planned to ensure radio transmission is restricted to the lodges so as to not disrupt the local wildlife, or those enjoying it, on the reserve. Cellular traffic from each of the lodges will be directed via microwave backhaul to the central BSC hub, which will also have a co-located BTS, and from there routed via satellite to Safaricom's Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in Nairobi.'"

Posted to the site on 7th August 2002