Nokia, iSAT Africa to expand Liberia's rural connectivity

Nokia and iSAT Africa have partnered to improve rural connectivity in the West African country of Liberia.

The partnership aims to bridge the digital divide and provide dependable, affordable network access covering approximately 200 sites over the next three years to underserved communities.

As an integrated communications services provider specializing in broadcasting, rural connectivity and satellite solutions in Africa and the Middle East, iSAT Africa will collaborate closely with Nokia on this project.

In a statement, Nokia said it will roll out its Rural Connect solution, which includes its AirScale radio portfolio, Massive MIMO radios, remote radio heads and basestations.

Nokia stated that iSAT Africa will benefit from its MantaRay Network Management solutions, which provide a unified, automated network view to improve monitoring and management.

These solutions will address challenges like limited coverage and the digital divide in Liberia's rural areas.

The Finnish multinational telecommunications company said by extending network coverage beyond major cities, its partnership with iSAT Africa aims to drive socio-economic development in Liberia's remote areas.

(Source: freepik)

"The 200-site deployment will expand iSAT Africa's network reach, offering mobile network operators a cutting-edge solution that is both cost-effective and highly efficient. This expansion will help rural communities access critical services, thus driving social and economic progress in the region," Nokia's statement added.

Osama Said, customer team head, West Africa and enterprise at Nokia, said the company's Rural Connect solution ensures robust coverage in remote areas, enabling voice and data services for communities that have been historically underserved.

"This partnership represents a significant step toward reducing the digital divide and fostering socio-economic development," Said added.

"Our partnership with Nokia underscores our commitment to reducing the digital divide and enabling greater connectivity across Liberia," continued Said Rakesh Kukreja, founder and managing director at iSAT Africa.

African digital transformation deals

African countries are working toward digital transformation targets and partnering with international companies to achieve those goals.

The partnership between Nokia and iSAT Africa comes at a time when many international companies are signing deals aimed at bridging the continent's digital divide.

Just last week, the Sierra Leonean government secured $50 million in funding toward its SMART Sierra Leone Project from the China National Technical Import & Export Corporation.

The funding was secured during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a diplomatic event hosted by China to bolster relations with African nations.

Elsewhere, tech giant Google and the Zambian government partnered to set up an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center of Excellence at the University of Zambia (UNZA).

In July 2024, Telecom Egypt and Nokia partnered to bring 5G technology to Egypt.

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa