Eutelsat Communications is set to ramp up its use of the Express Wi-Fi platform in partnership with Facebook to provide satellite broadband services in several regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Through Express Wi-Fi, Eutelsat aims to connect thousands of households in underserved rural areas stretching from Nigeria to Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.
Express Wi-Fi is a platform designed by Facebook Connectivity that offers partners the opportunity to create, develop, and market their Wi-Fi businesses in a scalable way, while providing their customers with fast, affordable, and reliable internet access. Express Wi-Fi is deployed in more than 30 countries, including several markets in Asia, South America, and Africa, bringing Wi-Fi access to millions of people.
In the past, Eutelsat and Facebook have successfully conducted pilot projects in underserved rural areas of the DRC, enabling local businesses to offer affordable Internet access on a prepaid basis. Eutelsat's use of the Express Wi-Fi platform has enabled thousands of individuals in the DRC to access affordable broadband.
Philippe Baudrier, CEO of Konnect Africa, said: "We are delighted to partner with Facebook to carry out this ambitious operation, which will connect more people in the most underserved areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative perfectly illustrates the role that satellite technology plays in bridging the digital divide, as well as the undeniable economic and social benefits that come with it. We are proud to once again leverage EUTELSAT KONNECT's unparalleled coverage to meet this growing need. "Facebook is committed to supporting its partners in their efforts to promote Internet access in sub-Saharan Africa, which remains the region with the most significant coverage disparities,"
said Fargani Tambeayuk, Head of Connectivity Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa at Facebook. "Connectivity services are essential to ensuring access to employment, education, healthcare, and much more. We are proud to team up with Eutelsat, combining the power of the Express Wi-Fi platform with that of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, with the aim of promoting satellite broadband coverage in underserved rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa."
Read also: Interview with Jean-Claude Tshipama, CEO of the Konnect Africa initiative for Eutelsat