SnapperTalk

Since the switch over to the new Inmarsat-4 F-1 Satellite BGAN satphones can now be used all the way down to South Africa which is good news. But the switch has also left a gaping coverage hole over parts of West Africa (plus northern England and Portugal) that will only be filled once the Inmarsat-4 F-2 satellite becomes operational over the Americas sometime in 2005/2006. Until that happens, it seems that you will not be able to use BGANs in these West African countries:

Western Sahara – Mauritania – Senegal – Mali – Guinea – Gambia – Guinea-Bissau – Sierra Leone – Liberia

One of the nice aspects of Senegal is the friendly, tolerant, attitude of the people living here and the general air of stability. I was reminded of this on the walk to work this morning when I came across a hundred or so men, in a group, running and shouting down the street. My instinct, based on many other countries in this part of the world, was to assess what it could be – a demonstration? part of a riot? running from some incident? … No… just the new recruits for the nearby Customs training centre on their morning exercise run. Nice.

Today I have the musical guest spot over on my friend Matt’s burgeoning audioblog website Benn Loxo du Taccu. It’s a great Sierra Leonian danceclub treasure I found and titled “Tell me if you want me to go”, though the real artist and title remain unknown.

Here is the article