Eutelsat hits milestone in connecting Africa. Photo: Eutelsat

Eutelsat has reached a major milestone by connecting 1 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to satellite internet, two years ahead of its planned schedule. This fulfill’s Eutelsat’s work under the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition pledge, backed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Eutelsat announced the milestone on Feb. 5.

Eutelsat’s Konnect hotspots Wi-Fi services, powered by the Eutelsat Konnect satellite, aim to deliver affordable, high-speed internet to rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, where terrestrial networks remain inaccessible. With speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 100 Mbps, the service aims to enable individuals, schools, businesses, and healthcare centers to access digital resources, unlocking opportunities for education, e-commerce, and critical services.

“Eutelsat’s achievements in satellite connectivity have been instrumental in providing reliable and affordable high-speed broadband to individuals, businesses, schools and healthcare centers in underserved regions. This work underscores Eutelsat’s commitment to bridging the digital divide,” Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General, ITU, said in a statement.

The Konnect satellite launched in 2020 and entered service later that year. Eutelsat ramped up its work under the Partner2Connect program over the past two years after hitting the milestone of connecting 200,000 people in January of 2023.

Partner2Connect is an ITU global alliance to mobilize resources to expand access to connectivity around the world. It has more than 950 pledges from 146 countries.