Africa is endowed with vast mineral resources, including some of the world’s largest reserves of fossil fuels, metallic ores, and precious gems. The continent’s diverse landscapes, ancient history, and vibrant wildlife draw tourists and adventurers alike. However, ongoing conflicts, protests, and political instability often lead to internet shutdowns. Despite these challenges, Africa possesses immense potential, driven by abundant natural resources and expanding consumer markets. A recent United Nations report reveals that only 37% of the African population is online, highlighting the urgent need to explore internet connectivity options to stimulate economic growth across the region.
Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites provide high-speed, low-latency internet, making them an ideal solution for remote areas throughout the continent. The easy-to-install, competitively priced antennas enable rapid deployment in hard-to-reach locations. With download speeds ranging from 25 to 220 Mbps and upload speeds between 5 to 10 Mbps, Starlink’s enterprise solutions promise enhanced reliability, supported by a 99.9% service level agreement (SLA).
As of now, only 21 out of Africa’s 54 countries have licensed Starlink services, facing significant regulatory obstacles to broader adoption. In countries where Starlink is operational, such as Nigeria, the service has made remarkable progress, becoming the second-largest internet service provider (ISP) by customer numbers within just two years of its launch. However, its rising popularity has led to congestion, particularly in major cities like Harare, Juba and Antananarivo, where capacity is already strained. This raises an important question: what other connectivity options are available to meet the continent’s diverse needs?
Eutelsat OneWeb: Ensuring Effective Connectivity and Digital Growth
Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO connectivity is making significant strides in Africa. The company has partnered with local governments in many countries to replace or support legacy terrestrial systems. Its high-speed, low-latency service has demonstrated average speeds of 50 Mbps for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads, with latency comparable to traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites.
OneWeb’s guaranteed service and committed information rate (CIR) make it ideal for secure communications in sectors such as government, defense, mining, and oil and gas. With a wide variety of enterprise-grade terminal options, OneWeb can accommodate various asset types, including transportation systems, vessels, and offshore platforms.
Iridium Certus provides a dependable communication solution that is especially valuable for operations across Africa’s diverse inland and offshore environments. While its maximum speed is 704 Kbps, Iridium Certus stands out for its reliability in delivering broadband and voice services, making it an excellent choice for IoT applications and critical safety communications. Its robust equipment connects onboard systems and essential devices, ensuring efficient real-time communication even in remote areas. This service facilitates secure asset management and includes features such as internet access, telemetry for remote maintenance, Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP), and voice calls, enabling direct contact with operators during crucial moments. In a continent where connectivity can be sporadic, Iridium Certus plays a vital role in enhancing operational efficiency and safety, particularly in sectors like humanitarian, NGO, mining and logistics.
VSAT Network: High Availability and Reliability
Speedcast’s global Ku-band and C-band networks meet the operational needs across the African region. They are particularly well-suited for mining, enterprise, telecommunications, satellite backhaul, ISP data centers, and humanitarian organizations where reliable, always-on connectivity is crucial. These services are resilient to equatorial weather patterns and provide over 99.9% link availability, ensuring 24/7 connectivity for critical operations. A wide variety of bandwidth packages are available, from high-speed to gigabyte-only plans.
Speedcast’s Professional Engineering and Systems Integration services offer specialized support in engineering design, installation, and project management throughout Africa. Our team has successfully completed numerous turnkey ground network builds and antenna installations in some of the most remote areas. We help companies navigate the complexities of digital transformation with strategic roadmaps that ensure timely delivery and enhance system capabilities.
The future of Africa’s digital economy hinges on expanding internet connectivity to unlock its full potential. By investing in diverse and innovative connectivity solutions, nations can foster economic growth, enhance communication, and empower their populations. As we navigate the complexities of this evolving landscape, collaboration and strategic planning will be essential to ensure that every African has access to the digital tools necessary for success.
Speak with our experts to explore the connectivity options that will accelerate your operations.