Orange Mali announced a partnership with Intelsat on Wednesday to bring 4G connectivity to Mali’s most remote areas. Intelsat’s satellite technology will help extend mobile coverage in Africa’s eighth-largest country, where infrastructure often fails.
Brian Jakins, General Manager and Vice President of Networks at Intelsat, explained, “Intelsat is on a mission to deliver high-quality, dependable connectivity to people around the world, regardless of where they live. But for people in remote and rural locations, reliable and secure connectivity takes on a heightened level of importance.
The Intelsat team is partnering with Orange Mali to help resolve a serious connectivity problem in a country where terrestrial infrastructure quality is less reliable.”
The agreement marks a first for Francophone West Africa, enabling the deployment of 4G networks over satellite. This approach is considered the best fit for Mali’s vast geography and logistical hurdles.
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Orange Mali, which holds over 56 per cent of the national market share, is recognised as the leading mobile network operator in the country and has received awards from OOKLA for being “Western Africa’s fastest mobile network” and “Mali’s fastest ISP”.
Intelsat powers Orange Mali’s rural 4G rollout
Moussa Yaro, Technical Director of Orange Mali, highlighted the reasoning behind choosing satellite for this expansion: “From a feasibility and economic standpoint, satellite communications are ideal for deploying 3G and 4G coverage in a country like ours. Intelsat’s reputation as an innovative market leader providing seamless coverage in some of the most remote corners of the world, along with our excellent current working relationship with the company, makes them the ideal solution for our needs”.
The partnership aims to bridge the digital divide by connecting communities lacking reliable mobile internet. With satellite-enabled 4G, residents in hard-to-reach regions will gain access to faster data services, supporting everything from education to local business development.
The country’s unique needs shape Orange Mali’s decision to work with Intelsat. The country’s size and the difficulty of building terrestrial networks in rural zones make satellites the most practical option. The project is expected to transform daily life for many Malians, providing new opportunities for communication, information access, and economic participation.
The satellite rollout of 4G establishes a new standard for West Africa and shows how technology collaborations may solve connection problems in places where traditional solutions fail.