Eutelsat and unconnected.org launch KONNECT satellite community WiFi initiative starting in Tanzania to expand access. (Image source: Eutelsat)

Eutelsat has formed a strategic partnership with unconnected.org to broaden access to community Wi-Fi services across Africa using the EUTELSAT KONNECT high-throughput satellite platform

The collaboration will begin in Tanzania, where unconnected.org plans to roll out the KONNECT community Wi-Fi offering through partnerships with local internet service providers, non-governmental organisations, system integrators and public sector stakeholders. The initiative is structured around a commercial framework aimed at accelerating returns on investment, increasing connectivity in underserved and remote regions, and ensuring sustainable long-term service delivery.

Both organisations intend to use the Tanzanian launch as a foundation for expansion into other African markets, working together to scale digital inclusion efforts across the continent.

Delivered via the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, the community Wi-Fi solution is designed to provide high-speed internet access in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure. This enables institutions such as schools and healthcare centres, as well as small enterprises, to connect to critical online tools and services.

Operating from the 7° East orbital slot, EUTELSAT KONNECT is a high-throughput satellite built to offer enhanced operational flexibility and substantial broadband capacity across Africa.

Philippe Baudrier, Eutelsat’s Vice President for Africa, said “Through EUTELSAT KONNECT, we are already seeing the tangible impact that satellite broadband can have in communities across Africa — from schools and clinics to local entrepreneurs. Partnering with unconnected.org allows us to extend this reach even further, supporting the development of sustainable, community-based connectivity that delivers real social and economic value.”

Mea Thompson, CCO, of unconnected.org, said “Eutelsat KONNECT plays a critical role in Tanzania by extending connectivity into areas that have historically been impossible to serve in a sustainable way. By lowering the cost of backhaul, it enables viable business models that allow local ISPs and community partners to achieve a return on investment while connecting the unconnected. This is exactly the kind of solution needed to scale digital access in a way that is both impactful and commercially sustainable.”

The partnership reinforces Eutelsat’s broader digital inclusion strategy. In early 2025, the company surpassed a significant benchmark by connecting one million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to satellite internet, achieving its target two years ahead of schedule under the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition led by the International Telecommunication Union.

GSMA report highlights low band spectrum and network sharing as key to improving rural mobile coverage and quality. (Image source: GSMA)

GSMA is urging governments and regulators to accelerate efforts to bridge the rural digital divide by prioritising additional low-band spectrum allocation and easing restrictions on voluntary network sharing between mobile operators

In its newly released report, Spectrum and Rural Connectivity, the industry body presents evidence that access to sufficient sub-1 GHz spectrum remains one of the most powerful levers to enhance rural network reach, service quality and affordability. Expanding access to these frequencies can also unlock broader social and economic gains for underserved communities.

While mobile coverage has expanded significantly in recent years, disparities persist. According to the report, people living in rural areas are still 28% less likely to use mobile internet than those in cities. They are also 30% less likely to regularly access online services such as messaging platforms, digital banking and educational tools. Even where coverage exists, service quality continues to hinder usage, particularly in areas that depend heavily on low-band spectrum to maintain reliable connections.

Analysis from GSMA Intelligence highlights the technical advantages of low-band frequencies. Their stronger propagation characteristics allow signals to travel greater distances and penetrate buildings more effectively, making them particularly suited to sparsely populated regions. Rural users already depend significantly on these bands, spending more than twice as much time connected to low frequencies as urban users across both 4G and 5G networks.

The report establishes a measurable relationship between increased low-band spectrum availability and improved rural connectivity outcomes. For every additional 50 MHz of sub-1 GHz spectrum assigned, rural 4G coverage rises by seven percentage points, while 5G coverage increases by eleven percentage points. Greater availability of low-band spectrum is also associated with download speed improvements of up to 8% and reduced congestion at the cell edge, where rural users are most affected by connectivity constraints.

Cost structures also play a critical role. The GSMA finds that reducing the spectrum cost-to-revenue ratio by 10% points correlates with tangible improvements in rural network deployment. Lower spectrum costs enable operators to allocate more capital towards expanding coverage and enhancing network performance. When combined with policies that reduce regulatory burdens, site access barriers and support voluntary network sharing, affordable low-band spectrum can significantly improve the economics of rural rollout.

“Reducing the digital divide between urban and rural communities allows us to give everyone the same digital opportunities, no matter where they live” said Luciana Camargos, head of spectrum at the GSMA.

“Our analysis shows that low-band spectrum is the foundation of rural mobile connectivity and making more available – at affordable prices and with long-term regulatory certainty – can dramatically improve rural coverage, boost speeds and reduce deployment costs. These improvements translate directly into better access to education, healthcare, financial services and new economic opportunities for rural communities. Governments and regulators have a clear chance to accelerate rural development by prioritising low-band spectrum for mobile and lowering the barriers to voluntary network sharing.”

Beyond enhancing connectivity metrics, the report underlines the broader economic implications of stronger rural networks. Improved coverage and service quality can increase digital participation, enhance productivity in sectors such as agriculture and transport, and strengthen local economies through better access to information, services and markets. Narrowing the connectivity gap between rural and urban areas can also amplify the overall societal value of digital networks.

To maximise these benefits, the GSMA recommends that policymakers prioritise the assignment of all low-band spectrum designated for mobile services, align spectrum pricing with economic fundamentals, provide long-term regulatory certainty consistent with network asset lifecycles, and reduce barriers to voluntary infrastructure sharing. The organisation emphasises that spectrum policy should be central to national strategies aimed at closing the digital divide and promoting inclusive economic growth.

OADC expands South Africa footprint

Open Access Data Centres (OADC), recognised as Africa’s fastest expanding data centre operator, has confirmed the completion of its strategic acquisition of seven NTT facilities in South Africa.

The transaction was finalised on 31 December 2025 after receiving clearance from the Competition Commission. Through this deal, OADC adds seven new sites to its portfolio, lifting its total installed capacity to over 25 MW nationwide. The signing ceremony saw Joshua Smythwood, WIOCC Group Chief Mergers & Acquisitions Officer, observe as Martin Springer, Senior Director for Infrastructure Solutions at NTT DATA in South Africa, formalised the agreement.

Already operating across South Africa, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, OADC stands among the continent’s most prominent data centre providers. The integration of these facilities strengthens the company’s core-to-edge strategy, enabling it to better support accelerating demand for digital infrastructure across Southern Africa. The expansion further consolidates OADC’s position at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation journey.

Dr Ayotunde Coker, CEO of OADC, commented: “This acquisition represents a significant step forward in expanding our ability to deliver scalable, resilient colocation solutions where they are needed. It strengthens our market value proposition, positioning OADC as a critical partner in growing Africa’s digital economy. We can provide clients with a wider range of comprehensive resilience solutions, delivering geographically separated primary and disaster recovery data centre infrastructure for their businesses.”

The addition of the seven facilities reflects OADC’s long-term commitment to strengthening Africa’s digital backbone, stimulating economic development and enhancing societal progress, while reinforcing its role as a key enabler of connectivity and technological innovation across the continent.

Dr Coker added: “Looking ahead beyond the immediate expansion of our operational presence, OADC plans on enhancing all of its data centres as part of its continuous facility enhancement process, bringing the introduction of advanced operational measures to ensure peak efficiency and reliability.”

Paratus launches protected 2,000 km fiber route linking Mombasa to Goma

Paratus Group has activated a major new fibre corridor in East Africa, establishing a direct terrestrial connection between Mombasa in Kenya and Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The newly launched G2M, or Goma-to-Mombasa, route spans approximately 2,000 km and is built as a protected network to ensure resilience and continuity of service.

The fibre link passes through Kigali in Rwanda, Kampala in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya, with direct connections into strategically located data centres along the route. Already operational and carrying live traffic for its first wholesale customers, the infrastructure is engineered to provide high-capacity, reliable connectivity for carriers, internet service providers and enterprises operating across multiple borders.

This deployment deepens Paratus’ presence in East Africa, forming a seamless regional network that connects inland markets to international subsea cable systems landing on the coast. Delivered in collaboration with ROKE TELKOM in Uganda and MoveOn Telecoms in Kenya, the project is supported by Paratus’ fully licensed subsidiaries in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. The G2M route also integrates with the Group’s low earth orbit footprint across Goma, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

For operators and enterprises in eastern DRC and neighbouring markets, the new route provides enhanced access to global connectivity, improved redundancy and lower latency, creating stronger conditions for digital expansion and economic participation.

The addition of the G2M link complements Paratus’ broader East–West backbone, which extends from Maputo in Mozambique to Swakopmund in Namibia and connects with the Equiano subsea cable system. Together, these assets enable low-latency, high-capacity links between Africa and Europe, positioning Paratus among the limited number of providers delivering integrated regional and cross-continental connectivity through a single network.

Martin Cox, Chief Commercial Officer of Paratus Group, says the G2M route is a critical step in enabling East Africa’s digital economy.

“This is far more than another fiber link – it’s a new digital highway for the region,” says Cox. “By creating a protected route from the coast all the way into Goma, we’re giving operators and enterprises direct, reliable access to global capacity. It dramatically improves resilience and performance, while opening new commercial opportunities across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.”

“Our strategy has always been about connecting the dots across Africa with quality, contiguous infrastructure. The G2M route strengthens everything we’ve already built in East Africa and makes Paratus the natural connectivity partner for businesses that operate across borders.”

Home to more than 200 million people, East Africa remains one of the continent’s fastest-growing economic regions, with strong expansion across fintech, manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture and ICT. As digital adoption accelerates, demand for secure, enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud services and managed solutions continues to rise.

Through offerings that include dedicated internet access, cloud platforms, data centre services, managed networks and cybersecurity solutions, Paratus aims to provide the infrastructure backbone required to support regional trade, innovation and digital transformation.

As Cox concludes: “Digital infrastructure today is as critical as traditional trade routes were in the past. We’re building the networks that make modern commerce possible – and this new route is a key part of that future.”