Global satellite operator SES S.A., in collaboration with Digital TV giant StarTimes, announced the successful wrap-up of a training workshop specially designed to offer superior after-sales services to StarTimes’ direct to home (DTH) satellite television subscribers in Nigeria.

ELEVATE, launched in 2012, is the SES Quality Assurance and Accreditation training programme for installers across the African continent.

This programme aims to create an engaged installer network essential to support DTH growth in Africa. The ELEVATE certificate provides the opportunity to generate more income, further develop skills, learn cutting edge techniques and improve the overall quality of installations.

The one-week specialised satellite services training and workshop, which kicked off on 21 March in Lagos, was designed to train 60 senior after-sales, installation and maintenance officers to help them enhance their installation skills and build capabilities for the technical officers in areas such as  maintenance and satellite trouble-shooting.

Commenting on the training and the partnership, Dare Kafar, Sales and Marketing Director at StarTimes, explained that the strategic partnership with SES is in line with StarTimes’ drive to upgrade skills and resource level of its technical personnel, ensure compliance with globally acceptable standards and improve its installation services to its subscribers.

“We are mindful of the strategic significance of well-equipped human resource and personnel in the quest to keep subscribers happy, particularly in the 21st century. In this light, our alliance with SES is a deliberate step towards ensuring a technical force that is top of class, with up-to-date global standards and best practices, and also ready to offer remarkable satellite television installations and management services to excite our subscribers,” Kafar noted.

Paul Freeman, SES Vice President Marketing, expressed excitement at the partnership withStarTimes and added that the goal is to bring satellite TV services closer and at their best to more Nigerians.

He further remarked, “The Elevate training programme was born out of a need to complement the satellite and digital television roll-out on the African continent with quality installations. It also serves to empower and benefit local business growth across the digital broadcasting environment through skills development. In addition to the training sessions, installers are provided with specialised tools, free training material and downloadable manuals.”

One of the participants, Akindele Oluwaseyi, said the new training has further deepened his skills and knowledge for professional installations and will help him service subscribers better in the areas of signal reception and tracking.

Another participant, John Egejuru, said the training gave him clearer insights into installation errors, poor networks, and the risks and functions of technical equipment, as well as the global direction for satellite television and networks.

SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES holds a participation in O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre.