Yazılar

Nigeria Grants Satellite Permits to Kuiper, BeetleSat and Satelio

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Nigeria has issued seven-year satellite permits to Kuiper Systems, Israel’s NSLComm (via BeetleSat) and Germany-based Satelio IoT Services, expanding the list of operators approved to provide space-based broadband in Africa’s largest telecoms market.

The Nigerian Communications Commission said the licences were granted under its commercial satellite communications framework, aimed at attracting investment and accelerating next-generation non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) services.

Under the approvals, Amazon’s Project Kuiper can provide Ka-band services in Nigeria from February 2026 to February 2033 using its planned 3,236-satellite constellation. NSLComm received clearance for its 264-satellite BeetleSat-1 network, while Satelio IoT was approved for a planned 491-satellite system, with one satellite currently in orbit.

The move places the companies alongside SpaceX, which already operates Starlink in Nigeria, and supports the regulator’s goal of rapidly expanding satellite broadband access.

Vodacom Partners with Elon Musk’s Starlink to Expand High-Speed Internet Across Africa

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Vodacom Group (VODJ.J), South Africa’s largest mobile network operator, has signed a landmark partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to businesses across Africa, the company announced on Wednesday.

The deal aims to bridge one of the continent’s toughest connectivity challenges — extending reliable internet coverage to remote and rural regions where traditional mobile infrastructure remains costly due to sparse populations and difficult terrain.

Vodacom, which serves more than 223 million customers and is majority-owned by Britain’s Vodafone (VOD.L), said it will integrate Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology into its network to enhance data relay capacity. The agreement also allows Vodacom to resell Starlink’s equipment and services directly to African customers.

“We continue dealing with multiple satellite providers, including Starlink, where Starlink has been licensed, as well as AST SpaceMobile and Amazon Kuiper,” CEO Shameel Joosub told Reuters following the company’s interim results on Monday.

The move underscores a growing trend among African telecom operators to partner with next-generation satellite companies. Rival MTN Group (MTNJ.J) is also exploring similar deals, while Vodafone has already teamed up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.O) to strengthen its global connectivity footprint.

By leveraging Starlink’s network of thousands of orbiting satellites, Vodacom aims to deliver faster and more reliable broadband to underserved areas — a critical step in Africa’s digital transformation.

China Expands Guowang Internet Constellation with New Satellite Launch

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China launched the eighth batch of Guowang satellites on August 13 using a Long March 5B rocket, progressing toward its goal of a 13,000-satellite internet network. Devamını Oku