Orange to leverage Eutelsat’s satellite to provide high-speed Internet in remote locations across Middle East, Africa

Eutelsat, Orange Africa and the Middle East (OMEA) have announced a strategic alliance on Tuesday to use satellite communication to close the digital gap across the Middle East and Africa. It seeks to improve digital inclusion in the area by providing internet connection to remote locations.

Orange will use the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, which provides cutting-edge broadband technology, as part of this multi-year cooperation to deliver dependable and easily available Internet access.

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Pioneer countries 

Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be the first countries to be deployed, with the goal of eventually expanding to every nation in the area.

Through this partnership, Orange’s telecommunications expertise and Eutelsat’s technological innovation in the satellite sector will be combined to offer services that are customised for both businesses and private individuals (B2C and B2B), ensuring high-performance, secure, and dependable connectivity.

Connecting remote areas and satisfying the region’s increasing need for internet access will be made easier by the complementing nature of fixed, mobile, and satellite technology.

What the partnership intends to achieve

Modern solutions with speeds of up to 100 Mbps are the foundation of the partnership, and when paired with Orange’s capabilities, they will help to cover rural and isolated places, offer services that are suited to the needs of people and companies in the area, and ensure dependable and secure communication while adhering to national laws.

This proactive strategy is a component of a long-term plan to use the best technologies available to assist digital development in all of Orange’s locations while upholding national frameworks and improving local ecosystems.

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Partners express enthusiasm 

Jérôme Hénique, Managing Director, Orange Africa and Middle East, said the partnership “illustrates our commitment to connecting all territories and bridging the digital divide in Africa and the Middle East.”

“Orange serves more than 160 million customers in the region and is pursuing its ambition to provide digital access for all. Drawing on our expertise and local roots, we are positioning ourselves as a key player in supporting evolving customer expectations while guaranteeing sustainable connectivity that respects local legislation.”

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale, said that the partnership between Orange Group and Eutelsat Group “is part of a long-term relationship. It is part of our strategy to offer our customers the best satellite connectivity solutions in high and low orbit, complementing our terrestrial networks. Orange Wholesale’s satellite factory has all the expertise required to implement this strategy for all Orange Group entities. We also offer satellite operators the terrestrial connectivity solutions they need, such as teleports or long-distance fiber.”

Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit within the Eutelsat Group, added, “Our satellite technology, including GEO capacity, combined with Orange’s local footprint, brings connectivity where it’s needed most. Together, we’re creating a robust solution to accessibility challenges, providing reliable and affordable connectivity for consumers and businesses alike.”

The KONNECT VHTS satellite, which Eutelsat employs to deliver broadband services to its users in France, already has Orange as a reference customer.