Satellite

Mercury strengthens satellite connectivity network

Eutelsat and Mercury, a subsidiary of Sonangol Group and a leading telecommunications services provider in Angola, have entered into a new multi-year, multi-million agreement to deliver Eutelsat’s LEO connectivity services

Building on the longstanding partnership between the two companies, Mercury, formerly known as MSTelcom, will continue expanding the availability of Eutelsat’s LEO services for enterprise, public sector, offshore and telecom customers across Angola.

Eutelsat remains the only licensed LEO operator currently operating in Angola and has established a significant presence in the country through its local partners. With investments in local infrastructure, including a ground station and local point of presence (PoP), alongside its continued commitment to Angola, Eutelsat has strengthened its position as a leading satellite connectivity provider in the country.

Through these capabilities, Eutelsat supports the delivery of low-latency connectivity services across Angola and the wider region, enabling organisations to access reliable communications beyond the reach of traditional infrastructure.

Philippe Baudrier, VP Africa at Eutelsat, said, “This new commitment from Mercury reflects the growing demand for Eutelsat’s LEO services in Angola and the continued success of our longstanding partnership. Together, we are expanding access to secure, low-latency connectivity across the country, helping enterprise, public sector, offshore, and telecom customers strengthen network resilience and reach locations beyond the coverage of traditional infrastructure.”

Francisco Pinto Leite, CEO, Mercury, added, “This new agreement reflects the strength of our partnership with Eutelsat and the value that LEO connectivity brings to our customers. Together, we are expanding the range of connectivity solutions available across Angola and helping organizations meet evolving communications requirements.”

Uganda approves Starlink operations after signing licensing agreement to boost internet access and digital transformation. (Image source: Ministry of ICT & National Guidence)

Starlink has received official approval to commence operations in Uganda after signing a Memorandum of Understanding and operational licensing agreement with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) at State House in Entebbe on 15 May 2026

The agreement represents a significant development in Uganda’s efforts to improve internet accessibility and accelerate national digital transformation initiatives.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni attended the signing ceremony and acknowledged Starlink’s commitment to operating within Uganda’s legal and regulatory requirements. “Our interest is security, revenue assurance, and proper accountability within the telecommunications sector so that we know who is operating and who the customers are,” president Museveni said.

He further expressed satisfaction with the company’s readiness to meet Uganda’s operational conditions ahead of launching services in the country.

Following the signing, the Uganda Communications Commission issued the necessary operational certification required for Starlink’s deployment within the country. Under the licensing terms, the company must establish a national gateway, maintain a physical presence in Uganda and operate a local office staffed with technical and legal personnel.

The rollout is expected to enhance internet access across the country, particularly in rural and underserved regions where connectivity challenges remain significant.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ryan Goodnight described the agreement as an important development for both Uganda and Starlink.

“It is a great honor to be here in this beautiful country. We are incredibly excited that we are forging this cooperation and bringing this network here,” he said.

He added that Starlink intends to support wider digital participation by reducing internet costs and expanding access to reliable connectivity services.

Goodnight also announced plans for the company to support sectors including healthcare and education through the donation of internet connectivity devices to selected facilities across Uganda.

Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance welcomed the partnership, noting that it could strengthen innovation, improve digital inclusion and create new opportunities across sectors such as business, education, healthcare and communications.

The introduction of Starlink services is expected to play a key role in Uganda’s broader digital transformation agenda by expanding connectivity access nationwide.

The partnership aims to expand broadband access nationwide. (Image source: Eutelsat)

Eutelsat and MTN Côte d’Ivoire have signed a multi-year agreement to provide satellite-based connectivity services across Côte d’Ivoire, using the high-throughput capacity of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite

The partnership aims to expand broadband access nationwide, serving both consumer and enterprise segments while promoting digital inclusion through community Wi-Fi hotspots in underserved regions.

Under the agreement, MTN Côte d’Ivoire will utilise the capabilities of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, positioned at 7° East, to extend high-speed connectivity to areas beyond the reach of fibre and mobile networks. The solution builds on KONNECT’s track record in enabling digital inclusion initiatives across the region, supporting broadband delivery for businesses and households while also facilitating connectivity in rural and hard-to-reach communities. Satellite services will complement existing terrestrial infrastructure, improving coverage and ensuring more reliable access to essential digital services across the country.

MTN Côte d’Ivoire, a subsidiary of MTN Group, is the country’s largest telecom operator. The agreement follows a separate multi-year partnership signed in August 2024 with MTN’s digital and infrastructure services arm Bayobab, which secured capacity on Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit constellation.

Philippe Baudrier, vice-president for Africa at Eutelsat, said, “This agreement represents another milestone in expanding our KONNECT services across Africa. Our platform is helping connect underserved and hard-to-reach areas and partnering with a leading operator like MTN Côte d’Ivoire shows how satellite and terrestrial networks work together to scale deliver connectivity at scale. Together, we are bringing reliable broadband to more communities across the continent, and we are proud to further strengthen our collaboration with the MTN Group.”

“Across Africa, satellite connectivity is a powerful complement to terrestrial networks, helping operators accelerate coverage expansion and support digital inclusion. This partnership with Eutelsat enables us to reach more customers, connect underserved communities and continue to support the country’s ongoing digital transformation,” added Honoré Kouame, general manager of MTN Business Côte d’Ivoire.

Boeing to line-fit SES satellite connectivity systems. (Image source: SES)

SES has announced a key milestone toward achieving offerability of its multi-orbit antenna system for installation by Boeing

This development will enable airlines to take delivery of new aircraft with onboard connectivity systems already installed, allowing services to be activated immediately following delivery through a Boeing-provided modification.

As part of the collaboration, Boeing will integrate SES’s in-cabin connectivity hardware during the aircraft production process. This marks an important step toward making SES’s multi-orbit system available as a fully line-fit connectivity solution across Boeing’s commercial aircraft portfolio. Boeing will handle installation of the full in-cabin network while also coordinating the integration of external equipment. The initial rollout will focus on the Boeing 737, followed by the 787 programme.

“We are proud of our partnership with Boeing and this outstanding progress,” said Mike DeMarco, president of Mobility at SES. “We are on track for full line-fit offerability, giving airlines a seamless path to select and install the multi-orbit electronically steered array (ESA) antenna solution during aircraft factory production.”

“Our collaboration with SES reflects Boeing’s commitment to delivering advanced, reliable connectivity to our airline customers,” said Destry Lucas, Director Airplane Connectivity, at Boeing. “We are making strong progress bringing multi-orbit connectivity into the production environment, enabling a more streamlined installation approach and supporting scalable, line-fit capable solutions.”

SES’s multi-orbit system is designed to operate across both low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellite constellations, enabling global coverage, built-in redundancy, and low-latency performance. The company’s electronically steered array (ESA) technology has already achieved 500 installations, with a further 1,000 commitments secured, highlighting strong market confidence in its in-flight connectivity solution.