MTN Pursues Satellite Partnerships to Enhance Rural Internet Connectivity in Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18 (Reuters) – Africa’s leading mobile operator, MTN, is actively seeking collaborations with low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite providers to extend internet connectivity to underserved rural and remote regions, according to Group CEO Ralph Mupita.

Satellite internet is gaining traction as a viable connectivity solution across the African continent, driven by popular offerings from providers like Starlink, part of Elon Musk‘s SpaceX. LEO satellites are capable of delivering high-speed internet service in locales where traditional telecommunications infrastructure, such as fiber and mobile broadband, remains financially challenging and logistically complex to install.

«To keep customers and businesses connected at all times, we’re going to have to embrace satellite as an additional technology form,» Mupita stated during a media call. The South Africa-based telecom is conducting proof-of-concept trials with multiple LEO satellite operators, evaluating potential partnerships and even contemplating reselling satellite internet services through its enterprise business in certain countries.

MTN’s strategic move reflects a broader trend among telecom operators, with competitors like Vodacom—South Africa’s largest operator and majority owned by Britain’s Vodafone—already establishing a partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper LEO satellite. Smaller operators like Cell C are similarly exploring agreements with LEO providers.

The integration of LEO satellites within the African telecommunications landscape is not without obstacles. Starlink and similar operators have encountered regulatory resistance in various nations, including South Africa, largely due to challenges posed by state-run telecoms.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is currently working to establish a regulatory and licensing framework for satellite internet providers, aiming to provide transparency and consistency in operational standards. Mupita emphasized the necessity of a level playing field in the industry, advocating for LEO satellite operators to adhere to the same regulatory obligations imposed on terrestrial telecom providers. «LEO operators should be treated the same as terrestrial operators… subjected to the same regulatory requirements,» he remarked.

This regulatory clarity is deemed crucial for fostering competitive equity and enhancing market growth in regions where digital connectivity is still in its developmental stages.

Source: Reporting by Nqobile Dludla, Editing by Joe Bavier and Mark Potter