Bird & Bird's London office has advised the RascomStar Group on a $150m (£93m) deal which aims to provide telecommunications access to the whole of Africa by 2006.

The deal, which also involves the Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation (Rascom) and Alcatel Space, will result in the first ever Rascom telecoms satellite dedicated to the African continent.

Alcatel Space will be responsible for the in-orbit delivery of a high performance satellite which will enable RascomStar-QAF to provide fixed voice, data telecommunications and internet access, as well as broadcasting satellite services.