Bharti Airtel has effectively carried out field trial of a technology that provides cost-efficient 3G phone services using a communications satellite as a transmission line, in association with SoftBank Mobile. It has conducted this field trial in actual environment in Kenya. With this technology, telecom operator can develop mobile phone networks in rural areas in Africa and other areas where commercialisation of such operations is challenging.
With this initiative, both the firms have validated technologies and methods for providing communication services using a communications satellite in rural areas at a low cost.
