NEWS
CMC Networks integrates LEO , MEO , GEO constellations to provide business continuity across South Africa
CMC Networks , a global Tier 1 service provider , has added Low Earth Orbit , LEO , Medium Earth Orbit , MEO and Geostationary Orbit , GEO satellite connectivity to its portfolio of solutions . This multi-orbit approach addresses the diverse connectivity needs of remote regions and challenging environments across Africa and the Middle East , removing the limits on digital transformation .
On 15 March 2024 , Africa saw another connectivity incident involving a major Internet outage affecting West and Central Africa , caused by a break in submarine cable systems . Four of the nine subsea cables that connect South Africa to the rest of the world were reported as damaged due to incidents on either side of the continent .
During this time , South Africa ’ s Internet infrastructure also experienced significant
issues . This event underscored the vulnerabilities of submarine cables , which are critical infrastructures for Internet connectivity across continents . CMC Networks uses multiple submarine cable systems and therefore could divert traffic and use optimal routes to bypass the outage .
“ Our goal at CMC Networks is to accelerate digital transformation across Africa and the Middle East , no matter the location . With the addition of LEO , MEO and GEO satellite solutions , we can provide seamless connectivity across geographies and during network and power outages ,” said Marisa Trisolino , CEO at CMC Networks .
CMC Networks ’ LEO satellites sit just over 1,000km above the Earth ’ s surface , providing ultra-low latency connectivity for a primary or backup connectivity solution , and consumer
Internet use cases such as high-frequency trading , high-performance computing applications and more , with a round-trip delay , RTD of + -80ms .
Marisa Trisolino
The MEO satellites have an altitude of 8,000km , with 150ms low latency connectivity and a larger Earth view . This provides fibre-like broadband performance for enterprise-grade networking . The GEO satellites orbit 36,000km from Earth , maintaining a fixed position .
Westcon-Comstor and Zscaler host road show for partners , customers in Johannesburg
Westcon-Comstor , and cloud security pioneer Zscaler , launched their local partnership with resellers and customers in a series of events held in Johannesburg . The events offered insights into the nature of the Southern African collaboration between the vendor and the distributor , provided partners with an opportunity to improve their skills , and offered end-user customers insights into how they can elevate their security posture beyond just the network .
The event series commenced with a Get Skilled with Zscaler session , a full-day enablement event for pre-sales engineers and partners . This initiative aimed to deepen the technical understanding of Zscaler ’ s Zero Trust Cloud Architecture , a crucial component in today ’ s cloud-centric business environments . The series also featured a session for partner executives , an end-user session , and a partner marketing workshop .
David Odayar
Westcon-Comstor showcased its 3D Labs and Technology Xpert services to Zscaler partners at the event . These offerings create a robust ecosystem that enhances the proficiency of Zscaler partners . The 3D Labs offer an engaging and dynamic space for an in-depth examination and trial of Zscaler ’ s cloud security solutions . Acting as a practical testing ground , these labs enable partners
to showcase the capabilities of Zscaler ’ s products through simulations of real-world scenarios in a managed environment .
Westcon-Comstor ’ s Technology Xpert services offer a pool of technical knowledge and support . These services encompass specialised training led by experts , assistance in designing solutions , and support during implementation , guaranteeing that Zscaler partners are knowledgeable about the products and adept at customising these solutions to address customer requirements .
“ Through our collaboration with Zscaler , we can introduce advanced security frameworks such as Zero Trust to a market that is becoming more aware of the need for comprehensive cyber security , extending beyond traditional network defences to include device-level protection ,” says David Odayar , Business Lead Cybersecurity , Westcon-Comstor , Southern Africa .
10 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com