{"id":266107,"date":"2025-11-20T12:51:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=266107"},"modified":"2025-11-20T18:02:39","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:02:39","slug":"rethinking-satellite-connectivity-bridging-the-digital-divide-in-the-sadc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/rethinking-satellite-connectivity-bridging-the-digital-divide-in-the-sadc\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking satellite connectivity: Bridging the digital divide in the SADC"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

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As someone who has spent decades working at the intersection of telecommunications policy, spectrum management, and infrastructure development, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how connectivity can transform lives, economies and entire regions. Yet, despite our best efforts, large parts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) remain digitally excluded. The time has come for us to rethink our approach, and recalibrate our strategies, especially when it comes to satellite connectivity.\u202f <\/p>\n

The recently released report,\u202fUnlocking Growth in the SADC: Harnessing the Potential of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Systems <\/span><\/i>commissioned by Amazon, makes a compelling case for why\u202fNon-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO)\u202fsystems must be central to our digital strategy.  <\/p>\n

The numbers speak for themselves:\u202f$16.9 billion in annual economic benefits,\u202f$10.3 billion in infrastructure cost savings, and\u202fmillions of people brought online. But beyond the figures lies a deeper truth. NGSO systems offer us a chance to leapfrog legacy limitations and build a truly inclusive digital future with significantly improved affordability. This is critical factor in our region, where affordability remains a primary barrier to connectivity.<\/p>\n

The connectivity gap is still too wide. Despite progress, the SADC region still lags behind global benchmarks. As of 2023, our average 4G mobile network population coverage was just 77%, compared to the global average of 90%. Geographical coverage stood at 75%, leaving a quarter of our region outside any network footprint. And even where coverage exists, affordability, device access, and digital literacy continue to hold back usage.\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cSignificant investment in infrastructure is needed to drive Internet coverage and usage in the region,\u201d the report notes. \u201cVarious challenges, including low population density in certain areas and terrain-based constraints, must first be addressed.\u201d\u202f <\/p>\n

This is where NGSO systems shine. Unlike traditional terrestrial infrastructure, NGSO satellites can deliver high-speed, low-latency Internet to remote and hard-to-reach areas, without the need for extensive ground-based networks. They orbit closer to Earth, reducing latency and enabling real-time applications, from telemedicine to e-learning to e-commerce.\u202f<\/p>\n

For too long, satellite connectivity has been treated as a secondary option, useful only when fibre or terrestrial mobile networks fail. That mindset must change. NGSO systems are no longer the expensive, high-latency solutions of the past. Today\u2019s low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations offer performance that rivals terrestrial broadband, with the added advantage of scalability and reach. \u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cNGSO systems may be the only technically and commercially feasible option to provide wide coverage with minimal ground infrastructure in highly remote or geographically challenging terrains,\u201d the report emphasizes.\u202f <\/p>\n

In fact, NGSO systems can complement terrestrial networks by serving as backhaul solutions, reducing the cost of expanding mobile coverage while enabling local mobile network operators and telcos to grow their networks and reach more customers. These partnerships can help local operators extend their footprint cost-effectively into previously unserved areas. The report estimates\u202f$10.3 billion in cost savings\u202ffor mobile network operators if NGSO is used for backhaul instead of fibre, a figure that should make any policymaker or investor sit up and take notice.\u202f<\/p>\n

Beyond basic connectivity, NGSO systems unlock entirely new economic opportunities. The report outlines three major growth frontiers:\u202f <\/p>\n