FAQs

Paratus is Africa’s quality network. With an eye on the future, the group is investing in infrastructure and establishing itself as a key player in delivering integrated network services across Africa. A passionate and professional operational team manages Paratus in seven African countries – Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia – and the business’s extended network provides a satellite connectivity-focused service in more than 35 African countries to a magnitude of customer satellite connections across Africa. This connects African businesses across the continent and delivers end-to-end service excellence. The group’s footprint extends beyond Africa to international (points of presence) PoPs in Europe and the US. Born and bred in Africa, Paratus is thinking big as it grows its footprint to deliver Africa’s quality network. By understanding the unique opportunities that Africa offers businesses and individuals to break boundaries and to connect without limits, Paratus is committed to raising the bar for providing quality connectivity in Africa.

The benefits of using Paratus Africa’s network services include access to high-speed and reliable connectivity across Africa. The company is committed to transforming Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service, which is a testament to its focus on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Paratus Africa ensures reliable high-speed connectivity across Africa by deploying an extensive fibre-optic network along with satellite and wireless infrastructure, which leverages advanced technologies to maintain consistent service quality.

When choosing the best network service for one’s needs, customers should consider factors such as the type of service that fits their geographical location, the speed requirements for their tasks, the reliability and quality of service, and the support and service level agreements offered by the provider.

Fiber internet is a type of internet connection that employs fiber-optic cables to transmit data. These cables contain strands of glass fibers that use light to carry information, providing a fast and stable connection suitable for both commercial and residential use.

Fiber optic internet is installed by laying fiber-optic cables from the service provider to the customer’s premises. This may involve running cables underground or attaching them to telephone poles. An optical network terminal (ONT) is also installed at the premises to convert the fiber-optic light signals into electrical signals that can be utilized by internet devices.

If one’s fiber internet is not working, the possible issues could include damage to the cables, problems with the ONT, service outages, or hardware malfunctions on the customer’s end. Please phone your nearest Paratus Network Operations Center (NOC) to address the issue as soon as possible.

The standard equipment needed for fiber optic internet includes an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), which converts fiber optic light signals to electrical signals that routers can handle. Additionally, a compatible router is required to distribute the internet connection to your devices. Cabling specific to fiber optic technology is also essential to make the physical connection possible.

Wireless internet refers to any type of internet service that connects users to the web without the need for wired connections at the point of use. It encompasses a broad range of technologies including Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, LTE, and it is commonly provided through mobile networks or wireless broadband services.

Fixed wireless internet is a type of high-speed internet connection where data is transmitted between two fixed locations via radio waves, bypassing the need for phone or cable lines. It’s typically used in areas where it may be challenging to install wired infrastructure.

Satellite internet is a form of wireless internet connectivity. It allows users to receive broadband internet access by using a satellite dish to communicate with a satellite in orbit. This form of internet access is particularly useful in remote and rural areas where traditional internet infrastructure is unavailable or cost-prohibitive to deploy.

Satellite internet tends to be expensive due to the high cost of launching, maintaining and updating satellites in orbit. Additionally, the equipment on the user’s end, including satellite dishes and terminals, and the technology needed at the hub stations to facilitate communication, can be costly. These factors combined contribute to the higher price of satellite internet services.

The cost of satellite internet varies by the type of service, speed and data allowances included in a plan. Paratus offers competitively priced satellite services, but for the most accurate and updated pricing, one would need to visit the relevant web page or contact our sales team.

Satellite internet packages from providers like Paratus Africa commonly include professional installation as part of the service offering (this may be noted in your initial quote). The installation process typically involves a technician setting up the satellite dish and configuring the necessary equipment to establish a connection.

Satellite internet functions by communicating with satellites to provide broadband access. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a satellite communication technology that uses small dish antennas for narrowband and broadband data.

VSAT systems are designed to provide reliable communication, particularly advantageous in remote or challenging environments where terrestrial internet options are not feasible. They offer advantages in reliability due to their ability to maintain connectivity across wide geographical areas, making them robust against local infrastructure issues that could affect other types of internet services. However, factors like weather conditions can impact signal stability.

Cloud hosting services provide hosting on virtual servers that pull their resources from extensive underlying networks of physical servers. Costs can be estimated by considering factors like resources needed, including storage, RAM, and CPU, anticipated traffic, and any additional services such as data transfer, backups, security features, or managed services.

Costs can be estimated by considering factors like resources needed, including storage, RAM, and CPU, anticipated traffic, and any additional services such as data transfer, backups, security features, or managed services.

Cloud hosting offers scalability, flexibility, reliability and high performance. It accommodates traffic spikes well and provides high uptime due to the distributed nature of the cloud.

BaaS is an approach to backing up data that involves purchasing backup and recovery services from a managed service provider.

DRaaS is similar to BaaS but specifically pertains to the replication and hosting of physical or virtual servers to provide failover in the event of a man-made or natural catastrophe.

To access Paratus services like OneWeb LEO, you can contact our sales team or https://paratus.africa/botswana/oneweb-satellite-service/ to understand the benefits, such as higher speeds and lower latency compared to traditional satellite services.

Starlink by SpaceX offers low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet promising faster speeds and lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellite internet services. Availability in Botswana and comparisons would necessitate direct enquiry with our team, as they would have updated information on availability and/or pricing.

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographical area for the primary purpose of computer networking.

Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is an extension of WAN capabilities, utilizing software-defined networking (SDN) approaches to manage the WAN connections.

Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus, or office building. WAN, however, covers broader areas such as cities, states, or even countries.

Troubleshooting common network issues can involve checking device connections, rebooting your router or modem, or contacting our Network Operations Center (NOC) for help.

To upgrade or downgrade, please contact our sales team directly at sales.bw@paratus.africa. If you experience an outage or network disruption, report this to Network Operations Center (NOC) immediately to enable quick resolution.

To upgrade, downgrade or cancel your network service, please contact our support.bw@paratus.africa.

If you experience an outage or network disruption, report this to Network Operations Center (NOC) immediately to enable quick resolution. Contact +267 3912345 or support.bw@paratus.africa.

To get a quote or sign up for our services, please contact the sales team on sales.bw@paratus.africa or submit an enquiry through the Paratus website.

The coverage and availability of services can be determined by consulting the coverage maps and service listings on our website, or by contacting the sales team for detailed information.

Information on billing cycles, payment methods, and options, can be provided by customer service or outlined in the user agreement with Paratus. Options include online payments, direct bank transfers, or standing orders, with cycles likely to be on a monthly or annual basis.