Avanti Communications & UCSAF deliver satellite broadband to 25 Tanzania schools

First installation at the Buguruni School for Deaf Children marked by Ministerial visit

Avanti Communications and Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) have announced deployment of a significant satellite broadband installation programme to schools in Tanzania. Together, the global satellite operator and funding body have collaborated to deliver broadband to 25 Tanzanian schools.

To mark the first installation in the programme, an official visit was made to the Buguruni School for the Deaf on Friday 25th April, 2014 by leading delegates, including Dr. John Mngodo, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology; Eng. Peter Ulanga, Chief Executive Officer, from Universal Communication Service Access Fund (UCSAF); and David Williams, Chief Executive at Avanti Communications. The delegates attended a ceremony at the school alongside the pupils, during which short speeches were made focusing on the many benefits of the partnership for the future of Tanzanian education.

The programme will deploy satellite broadband to a further 24 additional schools in the country.

“The government expect that the ICT facilities and internet connection that will be provided to these 25 schools will benefit the targeted beneficiaries who are the students and teachers of the schools so as to enhance modern learning methods in their schools. The Government also believes that the school management in collaboration with Municipal/District Councils will deploy strategies to ensure this project is sustainable.”

Dr. Mngodo from the Tanzanian Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology

“The Fund is committed to ensure that Tanzania public schools have ICT facilities with working internet irrespective of the challenges including geographical location of schools. We will work together with our stakeholders to ensure that this objective is met.”

Eng. Peter Ulanga, the CEO of Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF)

We are pleased to deliver a significant connectivity programme to schools in Tanzania. Satellite broadband continues to play a leading role in reaching beyond the bounds of terrestrial and wireless networks. Avanti technology can close the digital divide in Tanzania today, and in education together we can deliver Big Results Now. We look forward to extending our partnership with UCSAF to other schools in Tanzania.”

David Williams, Chief Executive at Avanti Communications

We are excited to be part of this project as it will improve our pupils’ learning through the ICT. Tanzanear’s key development objective for 2014 and beyond is to become a Centre of Excellence for the care of deaf children and work as an outreach facility for the local Tanzanian deaf community. Access to broadband will be a vital step towards meeting this objective, and we very much look forward to seeing how the children respond to internet access.”

Mwalimu Winfrida, the Headteacher from Buguruni School for the Deaf, part of the ‘Tanzanear’ charity partnership in Tanzania