Can satellite unlock Africa’s remote connectivity?

Across Africa, industries working in remote and hard-to-reach areas continue to face one pressing challenge: reliable, high-speed connectivity

Mining operations in rural regions, offshore oil platforms, government outposts, and agricultural enterprises often function in locations where fibre deployment is not practical, mobile coverage is inconsistent, and microwave networks are expensive or slow to deploy. For these sectors, data access is not a luxury but a vital operational requirement.

NEC XON, in partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, is tackling these challenges through an integrated approach. By combining enterprise-grade Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity with innovative last-mile solutions, the company is building a model for connectivity in Africa’s most demanding environments. 

Understanding the challenges of remote operations

Enterprises located far from urban centres face unique connectivity barriers that can directly affect productivity, safety, and growth. Infrastructure gaps remain a major obstacle as fibre and traditional terrestrial networks rarely extend to these sites. Building new infrastructure can take months and cost millions. In industries such as mining, oil and gas, and logistics, operational continuity is crucial. Even short downtime periods can disrupt safety monitoring, halt production, and compromise regulatory compliance.

These industries also require flexibility and resilience. Temporary sites or mobile operations demand scalable solutions that can adapt as the business moves or grows. In areas with inconsistent fibre or mobile coverage, dependable backup connectivity is essential. Without redundancy and resilience, remote operations risk costly disruptions and missed opportunities.

“These challenges require a different approach to connectivity,” commented Wally Beelders, executive: Communications Solutions at NEC XON. “It’s not just about putting a satellite terminal somewhere. It’s about creating a fully integrated, end-to-end service that meets the operational, regulatory, and security requirements of the sectors we serve.”

To strengthen this offering, NEC XON integrates bundled last-mile solutions such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and Super Wi-Fi networks. Carel Coetzee, CEO of NEC XON, explained, “What sets us apart from other distributors is a product portfolio that allows for integrated last-mile solutions. We can stack this on the back end of your OneWeb, which serves as the backhaul. We bundle these solutions together to provide more comprehensive coverage, connecting schools, hospitals, clinics, communities… at a more affordable rate.”

Key differentiators for African industries

The combined NEC XON and OneWeb approach is well suited to Africa’s diverse environments:

• Fully integrated backhaul and last-mile solutions, providing end-to-end connectivity from satellite terminal to user

• Rapid deployment, with installations completed within days to bring critical operations online almost immediately

• Pan-African presence, with NEC XON’s strong footprint across the continent enabling fast response times, local support, and culturally informed engagement

• Enterprise and carrier-grade reliability, designed for mission-critical applications rather than consumer services

• Super Wi-Fi technology, offering a coverage radius of up to 1.7 km for enterprise campuses, rural communities, and mobile operations

Through this integration, NEC XON delivers comprehensive coverage in regions once considered inaccessible or too costly to connect. Enterprises and communities can now rely on affordable, dependable connectivity where they need it most.