Omnispace Partners with MTN Group to Expand Mobile Connectivity Across Africa

Omnispace, a US-based satellite broadband service provider, has joined forces with MTN Group in a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the mobile operator’s terrestrial mobile network.

The partnership between the two companies will harness 3GPP (mobile) standards to deliver services to mobile consumers and enterprise internet-of-things (IoT) customers across MTN’s markets in Africa.

Ram Viswanathan, CEO of Omnispace, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This collaborative effort will offer access to secure, cost-effective, ubiquitous 5G mobile connectivity by seamlessly integrating our respective satellite and terrestrial networks.”

The agreement entails Omnispace developing a standards-based mobile and IoT network tailored to serve MTN’s markets across Africa. Meanwhile, the companies will engage in testing existing technologies, proving capabilities, and exploring use cases using Omnispace’s satellites.

The proliferation of partnerships between mobile operators and satellite broadband providers is rapidly increasing. Low-Earth orbit satellites are increasingly viewed as a cost-effective solution to address the universal coverage challenge.

African mobile operators like MTN Group and its competitor Vodacom Group are particularly interested in satellite technology due to the vast geographical expanses across the continent, where infrastructure roll-out to remote areas is often impractical.

Various satellite service providers offer solutions tailored to specific connectivity challenges. For instance, Elon Musk-owned Starlink primarily focuses on providing fixed-wireless internet access, although it’s also exploring direct-to-mobile capabilities.

Leading the innovation in direct-to-mobile solutions is Lynk Global, which has partnerships with both Vodacom and MTN to test the technology in different parts of Africa.

Dan Dooley, chief commercial officer at Lynk Global, highlighted the company’s unique approach, stating, “We build satellites that act as cell towers in space, allowing MNOs like MTN to use their spectrum to connect to our satellite.”

Direct-to-mobile connectivity holds significant promise for improving connectivity, yet other satellite solutions, such as enterprise data backhaul and high-capacity data transport, also play vital roles.

Recent disruptions in undersea cables in the Red Sea region underscore the importance of satellite networks as backhaul infrastructure, which can be mobilized to fill gaps in terrestrial infrastructure during such incidents.

For mobile operators, partnering with satellite service providers translates to expanded coverage and more reliable services, ultimately contributing to a digitally inclusive future.

Mazen Mroué, MTN Group chief technology and information officer, expressed the strategic significance of the partnership with Omnispace, stating, “Our partnership with Omnispace is a strategic step towards ensuring consistent, reliable access to our network, contributing to the foundational infrastructure that supports a digitally inclusive future.”