Eutelsat hits satellite Internet milestone in sub-Saharan AfricaEutelsat hits satellite Internet milestone in sub-Saharan Africa

Satellite communications provider Eutelsat has achieved its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition pledge, backed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), two years ahead of schedule.

The company said the milestone marks the connection of 1 million underserved people in sub-Saharan Africa to reliable high-speed Internet via satellite and highlights Eutelsat's commitment to bridging the digital divide in Africa.

Eutelsat Konnect hotspots, which provide Wi-Fi services powered by the company's Konnect satellite, have helped to deliver affordable Internet services to rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa, where terrestrial networks remain inaccessible, with speeds ranging from 5 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s.

"Reaching this milestone means 1 million people now have access to vital information, education, and communication resources through our Konnect solution," said Eutelsat Group CEO Eva Berneke.

Berneke said that, through Eutelsat's geostationary (GEO) satellite fleet and OneWeb's low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, the group is expanding its reach in order to empower communities to thrive in the digital era and drive meaningful economic and social progress.

Eutelsat combined its operations with OneWeb in September 2023 to become the world's first satellite operator with an integrated GEO-LEO infrastructure.

Related:Nigcomsat, Eutelsat partner for LEO services in Nigeria

Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 36 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites.

"Eutelsat's achievements in satellite connectivity have been instrumental in providing reliable and affordable high-speed broadband to individuals, businesses, schools and healthcare centres in underserved regions," ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said in a statement about the Eutelsat Partner2Connect milestone.

African partnerships and deals

Eutelsat, which is publicly listed in Paris and London, has been expanding its services and partnership in Africa over the past few years.

In January 2025, Eutelsat OneWeb partnered with Nigerian Communications Satellite (Nigcomsat) to provide connectivity solutions to various Nigerian sectors, including government services, businesses and rural communities. 

In August 2024, Eutelsat Group and Bayobab announced a multi-year agreement for LEO capacity on Eutelsat's OneWeb constellation to deliver fixed connectivity services across Africa.

In May 2024, Liquid Intelligent Technologies announced a distribution partner agreement with Eutelsat Group to make enterprise-grade LEO satellite services available in Africa through its Liquid Dataport business.

Eutelsat has a fleet of 36 GEO satellites and OneWeb has a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Source: Eutelsat OneWeb)

Eutelsat OneWeb also signed a deal with Paratus South Africa in January 2024 to enhance connectivity services, including improved reach into rural areas.

In March 2023, OneWeb made a deal with telecom operator Orange to provide front and backhaul connectivity to the telco's customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

In November 2022, OneWeb announced three partnership deals with Airtel Africa, Q-KON Africa and Paratus Group in Angola.

Eutelsat said that digital inclusion is an important pillar of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy and an important feature in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.