Regional African Satellite Communications Organization

INTRODUCTION The Creation of RASCOM RASCOM is a Pan-African Satellite Communication Organization, created from the will of African Governments and States, and set up in order to bridge the digital divide between the continent and the rest of the world. To overcome the challenges of this digital divide and the opening up of rural areas in Africa, the member States of the African Unity (currently African Union) agreed to establish a satellite telecommunications system as part of an enhanced telecommunications network for Africa, intended to provide expanded telecommunications services to all African countries This manifest will of African Governments and States has led to the creation of the Regional African Satellite Communications Organization « RASCOM » following the adoption of the Resolution RASCOM/02 of the Conference of African Ministers responsible for Telecommunications held in May 1992 at Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. MISSION Provide affordable infrastructure on a large scale to rural areas ; Develop and improve inter-urban communication ; Establish direct links between African countries ; Provide facilities for radio and television broadcast in African countries ; Support international connectivity ; Provide a range of services, voice, data, multi-media, telemedicine, tele-education, video conferencing etc. OBJECTIVES The main purpose of RASCOM shall be the design, development, construction, procurement, establishment, operation and maintenance of the space segment of the regional African telecommunications satellite system. In this context, RASCOM shall have as its prime objective the provision, on a commercial basis, of the space segment required for national and international public telecommunications services in Africa.