Eutelsat Group and Bayobab have agreed to partner for several years in low-Earth orbit (LEO) space on Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation. This will allow them to offer fixed internet services all over Africa.
According to Eutelsat, the partnership aims to meet cellular backhaul and enterprise connectivity needs by offering dependable solutions that improve network performance and customer satisfaction throughout the continent.
After Eutelsat and OneWeb merged in 2023, the newly established Eutelsat Group became the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator, boasting a constellation of over 600 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and a fleet of 35 geostationary (GEO) satellites.
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The MTN Group subsidiary Bayobab offers infrastructure and digital services. The network of this terrestrial fibre spans 114,000 kilometres throughout Africa and is connected to sixteen subsea cables.
Bayobab and Eutelsat: A Game-Changer for Connectivity
Through the agreement with Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation, Bayobab can offer lower latency, better coverage, and high-quality connectivity in rural locations.
According to a joint statement from the firms, the roll-out strategy will be implemented throughout the continent by December 2024, with services already accessible in four African nations.
We take great pride in the fact that Bayobab and the giant MTN Group were among the first companies in Africa to use the Eutelsat/OneWeb LEO constellation. Cyril Dujardin, co-president of the Eutelsat Group Connectivity Business Unit, said, “This partnership underscores the commitment of both Eutelsat and Bayobab to drive digital inclusion, as well as the pertinence of innovative satellite solutions to achieve this aim, notably the unique properties of ubiquitous, low latency LEO capacity.”
Modern digital connectivity will be available in even the most isolated regions of the continent, according to Bayobab CEO Frédéric Schepens, thanks to the company’s collaboration with Eutelsat and the incorporation of OneWeb’s LEO satellite services into Bayobab’s offerings.
According to Eutelsat and Bayobab, the collaboration is a step in the right direction towards closing the digital gap in Africa. The deployment and integration of LEO satellite technology will offer improved connection options that will empower people all around the continent.
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Partnerships to grow Africa’s network coverage
Bayobab, OneWeb, and Eutelsat expanded their presence throughout Africa over the previous year.
Through its Liquid Dataport business, Liquid Intelligent Technologies announced in May 2024 that it has entered into a distribution partner deal with Eutelsat Group to offer enterprise-grade LEO satellite services throughout Africa.
In January 2024, Eutelsat OneWeb also inked a contract with Paratus South Africa to improve its connectivity offering and extend satellite coverage to more remote areas.
Bayobab announced plans to construct a fibre optic cable network throughout South Sudan in June 2024.
Bayobab, Smart Africa Alliance, and Africa50 inked a memorandum of agreement in November 2023 to support Project East2West, a plan to connect Africa’s eastern and western shores with terrestrial fibre.