Nigeria’s less well-served areas are set to benefit from a new deal bringing together satcoms and broadband.
Satellite operator Eutelsat Communications says it has inked a deal with Tizeti, West Africa’s pioneer solar-based internet service provider and a leading provider of community connectivity solutions, to jointly improve broadband penetration in Nigeria, especially in underserved locations.
The two companies announced at the AfricaCom 2022 trade fair that they will deploy Eutelsat’s Ka-band satellite connectivity, Konnect, to reach remote communities throughout Nigeria and provide fast, and affordable internet services.
The companies explain that, despite 44.5 percent broadband penetration, largely thanks to mobile network operators, reliable internet connectivity is still limited to a few Nigerian states.
The partnership between Tizeti and Eutelsat will, say the two companies, provide a complementary solution that leverages satellite broadband infrastructure and Tizeti’s community Wi-Fi management platform to deliver a fast and affordable public Wi-Fi hotspot service, especially in remote areas that are difficult to reach by terrestrial broadband infrastructure.
Konnect's Community Wi-Fi initiative has already seen considerable success across Africa with hundreds of sites providing internet access to tens of thousands of people every week.
The companies point out that partnerships such as this play a significant role in addressing the digital infrastructure deficits in emerging economies, leveraging innovative technology and capabilities to improve development outcomes for millions of people.
