Space Medicine: The Israelis Assisting in Africa

One of the important challenges in the African continent is accessing advanced services to isolated places. This is where the Israeli company “Space Communications” enters the picture, which, among other things, using the Amos 17 satellite, which was launched into space about a year and a half ago, provides advanced services in the fields of medicine, education, internal security, communications and more. Those services, which were not accessible in many parts of Africa, are very helpful to the residents.

Last Thursday, a Communication Africa 2021 conference was held, at the initiative of IMPROVATE, a company that connects Israeli technology and innovation companies to governments, in collaboration with “Communication Space”. This, in order to expose countries in the African continent to the capabilities of Amos 17, the satellite that covers Africa.

Large parts of Africa are not yet connected to satellite services, and such a connection could accelerate state development and dramatically improve service to citizens in all walks of life. At the conference, representatives including ministers from Mali, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and South Sudan spoke about the services they receive with the help of the Israeli satellite. The conference was also attended by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who serves as an adviser on innovation to countries in Africa.

At the opening of the conference, Dan Zichek, CEO of Space Communications, presented the services that the company provides to its customers in the African continent, which also include the establishment of a clinic in Mozambique. In an interview with Ynet after the conference, The situation in Africa. There are major challenges there – lack of infrastructure, both communications and electricity, and funding. These things make development difficult. We offer a flexible platform – an app for end customers, funded by the government. “He talked about solar-powered communications centers where you can get services in isolated places in Africa – which operate using the Israeli satellite.

He also talked about aid in the field of medicine. “There are areas that do not even know there is a corona, for them it is not in the mind. The ability to communicate and connect becomes significant,” said the director of Communication Space. Therefore, the congestion in clinics in cities is decreasing.

Zichek added that the services provided by the Israeli company to customers in Africa are becoming more accessible. “The price of the Internet is going down. The centers are being built so that they do not consume too much electricity – and then it is based on solar energy. Now there is a connection of technology that was previously difficult to implement.”

On the clinic set up by the company in Mozambique, he said: “We set up the clinic as his blood. We wanted to show that it is possible, and it is accessible. This clinic has caused a dramatic change in the field.”

The CEO of Space Communications also spoke about the benefits of the company and Amos 17 in the African market. “We are flexible – others take a long time,” he said. “We give a quick response. When the market becomes competitive – we respond quickly and it creates quiet. “He said,” In Africa there is an increase in bandwidth demand – it goes to fiber optics and also to satellite, which gives very large capacities. The advantage we have is the large bandwidths. Previous satellites could support 150 megabytes, ours in gigabytes. “

On the conference itself, Zyzek said: “The conference was held virtually for the first time. It appealed to all governments in Africa and allowed them to be partners, to leverage the restrictions that were created.” He added that it is easier for a small company to respond and understand the market, compared to giant companies from around the world. Another advantage, according to Zichek, is the fact that Israel is a high-tech country. “Communication is a way to learn and receive medical care. To connect rural and urban areas,” he concluded.

At the conference, Tony Blair, who also served as the Quartet’s envoy to the Middle East, said that “if globalization is to work, technology must work for the benefit of the people.”

Mr Blair added: “Africa’s main challenge is to increase the world’s population. Africa is facing problems of development, poverty and more. If the government works honestly for its citizens, it will succeed. Africa is important to the world as well. I am optimistic. “For 25 years, it has progressed and developed a lot. Smart companies are investing in Africa.”

On satellite communications, Blair said: “Satellite communications in Africa are one of the challenges of having isolated communities, sometimes those that are hundreds of miles from urban places. That is, it is difficult to bring electricity to those places. Here technology benefits us and many villages in Africa use green electricity. “It’s very exciting. There will be great interest in Africa in this technological field.”

Representatives from African countries were also present at the conference, most praising the “communication space” and services it provides, and some detailing how the help is expressed. South Sudan Communications Authority CEO Aduk Guy said: “South Sudan is a classic example of how satellite communications can help it. This is a new beginning and we are in touch with ‘Communication Space’. We want to be part of the international community, especially in the field of health. There are parts of our country that have not yet heard of the corona. You understand what problems we are having. As a country recovering from war, we use satellite information for peaceful purposes. “

Tanzanian Ambassador to Israel, Job D. Massina, added: “In Africa we suffer from internet problems. The cost of satellite services is high. Our country in the area is much larger than Israel and the density is much smaller – so we have to reach remote areas.”

Meanwhile, “Space Communications” is thinking about the next generation of communications satellites and is looking for more destinations around the world. In the next decade, the old Amos 3 and Amos 4 satellites will be replaced with new satellites, and the Israeli company is considering which types of satellites to choose – in order to provide more advanced services to current and future customers.