Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced its participation at 'eLearning Africa'. The 8th international conference on ICT for development, education and training, 'eLearning Africa' is being held in Windhoek, Namibia from 29-31 May.
Inmarsat is participating in the conference for the first time and, during the three-day event, will be looking at broadband connectivity as the 'missing link' in providing quality education to remote areas.
Inmarsat's product portfolio, including BGAN and the upcoming Global Xpress superfast broadband service, can help teachers and students in remote locations to access online learning materials. Accessing materials via these services can provide instant benefits but also, from a longer term perspective, access to broadband connectivity enables teachers to continue their training through eLearning which is a major challenge facing education ministries in Africa and other regions as they tackle teacher shortages.
In addition to the up-skilling of teachers, access to content aids basic and higher education students in a variety of ways. Virtual tutoring, e-content, e-assessment and e-administration are all areas applicable to both levels of education and with more highly trained teachers, will bring many benefits to students in remote areas, closing the gap between urban and rural education levels.
Nada El Marji, Lead, Sector Development at Inmarsat said: “Satellite communications can unlock a wide range of education opportunities for people living in remote areas. Giving students in more isolated regions the same opportunities as their counterparts in urban areas is crucial to both personal and community development. As Inmarsat expands its operations into the education sector, 'eLearning Africa' provides an excellent platform for raising awareness of how effective and reliable broadband connectivity can be in delivering eLearning resources.
“Identifying current and future projects in this field is a key aim for Inmarsat at the conference, highlighting where Inmarsat services can be utilised to improve education standards and quality of life in remote areas.”
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com/about.
Jonathan Sinnatt
Media Relations
Inmarsat
T: +44 20 7728 1935
M: +44 7951 516 395
Andrew Kennedy
For Inmarsat, Middle East & North Africa
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
T: +971 4 4507634
M: +971 50 965 9104
