Article by  Dawie de Wet

Recent growth and developments in the global satellite industry are indeed remarkable. In the context of Africa, Starlink is already operational in several countries, Eutelsat OneWeb has announced service launch plans and SES O3b mPOWER, Amazon Kuiper and Mangata Networks are all planning to service Africa in the near future. All these constellations use advanced satellite technologies and they all have stated a desire to address the connectivity gap in Africa — to bridge the digital divide. This however is where the similarities end.

The service offerings and delivery models of these operators differ greatly, with each one having specific service advantages for their preferred target market segments and delivery modes. This article takes a closer look at the different business case elements for the various services, and consider the feasibility for closing the connectivity gap.

Africa has come a long way in terms of the provision of connectivity solutions, and yet a recent World Bank Group study completed in 2022 shows that on average, only 11.2% of the continent’s population live in a household with access to a computer or tablet. Some 43.9% and 38.6% of individuals access radio and television, respectively, indicating an appetite for information and entertainment delivered using communication services. Access to mobile phones and electricity is substantially higher than access to the internet and computers. Although only 58.8% of individuals surveyed have access to electricity, 76% of individuals have access to a phone.

These statistics suggest that we still have a digital divide in Africa and that the noble goal to connect the unconnected remains as lofty – and as unfulfilled — as ever. The pertinent question today is, can the new Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite network operators make a meaningful difference?

Read the rest of the article here: https://www.satellitetoday.com/opinion/2023/11/02/will-satellite-constellations-bridge-the-digital-divide-in-africa/