VSAT @ Malawi SDNP
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I am pleased to inform you that Malawi SDNP will soon be installing our own satellite link using the most modern VSAT technology for our international Internet link. I am pleased to announce the latest details here.

Malawi SDNP started to process procurement of our own VSAT link to upgrade our international Internet connection in January 2001, soon after the Malawi Government changed policy on VSATs in December 2000. We are very pleased to note that this change took place after our intensive lobbying in 2000 for policy change in this area. Clearly this will benefit the whole Internet community and business in Malawi and we are proud to be a major driving force and facilitator on Internet issues in Malawi.

We have now paid for our VSAT earth station equipment and we expect this to be shipped and installed within the next two months. We expect to be live on VSAT in September 2001. The commencement of VSAT services will reduce our dependence on the current problematic telecommunications and Internet infrastructure and help to reduce operating costs while improving quality and efficiency in Internet connections and services. Among other advantages, the VSAT will bring higher web download speeds and eliminate the need for a mandatory cache for web access thereby improving conditions for electronic commerce. It will also enhance our already fast and reliable e-mail services.

To get to the point where we are now, Malawi SDNP has had to satisfy very detailed procedures with both of our parents, the Malawi Government and UNDP. This has sometimes resulted in delays in implementing some of our desired activities on our VSAT and other programmes. However, our success in satisfying these procedures also means that Malawi SDNP has the best and most solid foundation of any ISP in Malawi. You, our clients stand to benefit a great deal from such solid foundation.

Malawi SDNP knows that you, our clients, are currently having a hard time to down load web pages during peak hours. We appreciate your continued patronage during this difficult time. We would like to assure you that we have worked hard to alleviate these problems and that the current problems will be a thing of the past in a few weeks once the VSAT is operational.

We have set-up a website where you can get progress and other details on our VSAT installation at the address http://www.sdnp.org.mw/vsat

You are very welcome to contact us at our address, telephone or fax numbers listed below or on our website http://www.sdnp.org.mw for any further details on VSAT and any other issues.

We provide the Internet.

Regards,

Paulos
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Dr. Paulos B. Nyirenda,
Malawi SDNP Coordinator,
P/B 303, Chichiri,
Blantyre 3,
MALAWI.
Tel: +265-674979 / 675872 / 824787
Fax: +265-673944
E-mail: paulos@sdnp.org.mw
Web: http://www.sdnp.org.mw

Last updated 7 August, 2001