Eutelsat and Paratus Expand LEO Satellite Connectivity Across Southern Africa

Eutelsat and Paratus have signed a new multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement to extend Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity across Southern Africa, marking another milestone in bridging the region’s digital divide.

Under the renewed partnership, Paratus will expand deployment of Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO services throughout South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. The initiative aims to deliver reliable, high-speed, and low-latency connectivity for both fixed and mobile applications, including comms-on-the-move and comms-on-pause solutions.

Paratus, already a major distributor of Eutelsat’s GEO services, was among the earliest adopters of the OneWeb LEO network in early 2024. The company also constructed a teleport facility in Angola, now serving as a critical Eutelsat ground station supporting the rollout of LEO connectivity across the continent.

“Demand for resilient and high-speed connectivity continues to grow across Southern Africa, especially in industries operating in remote or distributed areas,” said Ghassan Murat, Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Eutelsat. “By combining Eutelsat’s LEO capabilities with Paratus’ extensive network and operational expertise, we’re enabling organizations to stay connected, wherever they operate.”

Schalk Erasmus, CEO of Paratus, emphasized that the expanded collaboration reinforces the company’s mission to deliver flexible and high-performance connectivity solutions across Africa. “Our partnership with Eutelsat strengthens our ability to serve customers through a seamless blend of GEO and LEO technologies,” he said. “Together, we’re empowering businesses and communities to accelerate their digital transformation, even in the most challenging environments.”

The agreement highlights the growing strategic importance of hybrid GEO–LEO infrastructure in enabling Africa’s digital growth and enhancing connectivity for sectors such as mining, energy, logistics, and government services.