Satellite Connectivity in Africa – New Partnership

Orange Africa and Middle East (OMEA) and Eutelsat have today announced a strategic partnership it believes will bridge the digital divide through satellite connectivity in Africa and the Middle East. The new service is aiming to connect isolated areas with broadband access, helping to grow digital inclusion in the region.

As part of this multi-year partnership, Orange will use the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, which offers state-of-the-art broadband technology, to provide reliable and accessible Internet access. Initially, deployment will  only cover  Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the aim of gradually extending to all countries in the region.

New Service Tackling Remote Area Access

By combining Orange’s expertise in telecommunications and Eutelsat’s technological innovation in the satellite sector, the partnership plans to make it possible to offer services tailored to both private individuals (B2C) and businesses (B2B),  and to provide a secure, reliable and high-performance connectivity service. The complementary nature of the fixed, mobile and satellite technology offers will help to connect isolated territories and meet the growing need for Internet access in the region.

The partnership is based on cutting-edge solutions offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, which, combined with Orange’s capabilities, will make it possible to:

• Cover white and rural areas,
• Provide services tailored to local conditions and the needs of individuals and businesses,
• Provide reliable and secure connectivity, in compliance with national regulations.

Vision to Develop Digital Development

This proactive approach is part of a long-term vision to support digital development in all the areas where Orange is present, using the best technologies available, while respecting national frameworks and enhancing local ecosystems.

Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Africa and Middle East, comments: “This partnership illustrates our commitment to connecting all territories and bridging the digital divide in Africa and the Middle East.

Today, Orange serves more than 160 million customers in the region, and is pursuing its ambition to provide digital access for all. Drawing on our expertise and local roots, we are positioning ourselves as a key player in supporting evolving customer expectations, while guaranteeing sustainable connectivity that respects local legislation,” he concludes.

Orange is already a reference customer of Eutelsat’s KONNECT VHTS satellite, which it uses to provide broadband services to its subscribers in France.

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