New Dawn « Convergence Partners

New Dawn satellite set to launch on 29 March 2011!

February 17th, 2011 | admin

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace’s launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Intelsat New Dawn is the first ever African private sector communications satellite.
A joint-venture between a consortium led by Convergence Partners and Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, the New Dawn satellite and its 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units are designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers. Operating from a geostationary orbital slot at 32.8 degrees East, Intelsat New Dawn will be ideally positioned to serve Africa through a payload optimized to deliver wireless backhaul, broadband and media content – the fastest growing satellite-based applications in Africa.

Convergence Partners Group steals the show: AfricaCom 2010

November 24th, 2010 | admin

AfricaCom, the Continent’s premier communications event, took place in Cape Town on 10 and 11 November. Chairman Andile Ngcaba was a featured speaker on day 1, highlighting the opportunities & challenges facing ICT investors in Africa, and the Convergence Partners Group was proud to unveil its new stand (see pictures attached) – the first time we have exhibited at the event. The rationale behind this was to showcase the many young and exciting companies in the Group and give them access to the burgeoning African communications market, as represented by over 5000 attendees over the two days.
The Convergence Partners stand was a hive of activity for the duration of the event (especially when our gorgeous ladies served up some great cocktails at the end of day 1). Companies in the Convergence Partners stand that were formally exhibiting at AfricaCom included Seacom, Convergence Wireless Networks (comprising WiA and Intra), Intelsat New Dawn Satellite Project, Plessey, Comsol, Integrat, Skillpod Media, Bloodhound, Inala, Convergence Border Management Solutions, as well as the Convergence Partners Foundation.
AfircaCom also coincided with the media launch of Convergence Partners’ latest project, FibreCo (see below blog).

New Dawn profiled in Communications Africa Magazine

August 11th, 2010 | admin

In the latest edition of Communications Africa Magazine, the technical and commercial benefits of geostationary communications satellites are assessed, contrasting them to both the failed high profile experimental satellite technologies of the previous decade, as well as to other communications technologies in Africa, notably fibre, as it arrives on the continent’s shores in abundance. In particular profiling the New Dawn satellite.

New Dawn Satellite on track for lift-off in Q1 2011

June 28th, 2010 | admin

Convergence Partners recently visited in Washington, DC and had the opportunity to spend time with New Dawn joint venture partner, Intelsat, and to see the New Dawn craft in advanced stages of construction, at the premises of craft manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation.

Tags: Africa, Altirah Capital, Andile Ngcaba, David Frankel, Intelsat, launch, New Dawn, Orbital Sciences, satellite
Posted in Media, Uncategorized

New Dawn Satellite on track for launch

April 19th, 2010 | admin

New Dawn, the first of its kind joint venture between Convergence Partners and Intelsat, is on track to launch its $250m geostationary communications satellite, which is targeted at the African market, by the end of the year, Flavien Bachabi, vice-president for Intelsat Africa said yesterday, 13 April 2010.