NuRAN Wireless (NUR.C) first site went live in Cameroon on the weekend and is already generating significant traffic, according to a press release.

We wrote about NuRAN wireless in our last month’s daily ideas column wherein we noted that their business deals could change the way Africa communicates, effectively working to close the digital divide and make life better for both investors and for the people using the service. This is the first step.

“Although there have been some small delays with respect to shipping and logistics, we are extremely pleased to have finally announced our first live site. We expect that the following sites will be rolled out as previously communicated to our shareholders. The deployment of these sites will demonstrate our ability to execute on the NAAS business model and highlight the effectiveness and profitability of this model. We are also pleased to be at the center of bringing connectivity to these regions globally where no connectivity currently exists. The ability to do remote banking, access health care information and communicate widely will translate into very significant economic and social benefits for the population of the areas we cover.” said Francis Letourneau, CEO of NuRAN.

NuRAN Wireless supplies mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions. They use a radio access network (RAN, core network and backhaul products, which dramatically reduce the price of ownership, giving new opportunities for both established and emerging mobile network operators. This helps extend wireless coverage, including internet and mobile networks, to isolated rural communities, offshore platforms and ships, thereby aiding in the closure of the digital divide.

The first 48 of their 242 planned sites should be completed soon. The company signed a deal with European satellite operator, Eutelsat, for the backhaul managed services. They have a fleet of 39 satellites serving broadcasters, video service providers, telecom operators, ISPs and government agencies in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

The Cameroon site is part of NuRAN’s Network as a Service contracts with Orange S.A (ORAN.NYSE), which is handling both its 242 Cameroon sites and the 2000 sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Each site includes towers and related equipment with a focus on rural communities in Cameroon and DRC.

—Joseph Morton

Full disclosure: Nuran Wireless is an equity.guru marketing client.