YahClick Go to provide fast, transportable connectivity

Vox Telecom has announced that they will be introducing a cost-effective, transportable broadband satellite terminal to the South African market in January next year.

The terminal, called YahClick Go, will provide fast, transportable connectivity to organisations and businesses that may require access to the internet whilst on the move, such as event companies, mobile marketing vehicles, news stations or disaster management services.

“There are mobile systems on the market that make use of Ku-band satellite broadband, but this will be the first system to make use of a Ka-band connection,” says Jacques Visser, project manager for YahClick at Vox Telecom. Ka-band satellites transmit many highly focused, overlapping ‘spot beams’, each covering a relatively small area, which allows for high speeds to uplink and downlink increasingly large files and video content. “This means that this solution will provide faster internet at a much lower cost – even in remote areas.”

According to Visser, YahClick Go can be mounted on any SUV or trailer and is lightweight enough to transport anywhere. “The system can be operated by a single user and does not require any technical skills,” Visser explains. “The user simply presses a single button and the unit will automatically search for a connection via an auto pointing antenna. This is particularly beneficial when broadcasting information using live streaming, as the Ka-band allows for uplink speeds of up to 5 Mb per second. A vehicle is all that is needed.”

Visser says that the service can also be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot at events such as outdoor festivals or auctions. “It would also be extremely beneficial to mobile government units that travel between remote towns for administrative reasons, or in the event of a disaster where media, emergency care workers and law enforcement would all be present and require connectivity.”

The units have already been tested at various locations and are expected to be commercially available by January 2013.

“We want to make the service as affordable and accessible as possible and will likely include various options for purchasing or hiring the unit,” Visser says. “We believe that this will signify a considerable, transformative shift in the rural community and economy, particularly for schools, hospitals, small businesses, farms and mining companies who have not had access to reliable broadband before.”