Starlink comes to Liberia
16 January 2025
Starlink’s services are now available in Liberia following a one-year agreement signed in October 2024 between Starlink and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).
The license aims to expand internet coverage across the country from 60% to nearly 100%, according to Abdullah Kamara, LTA’s chief executive officer. Penetration was 30.1% at the start of 2024, representing 1.65 million internet users, as per DataReportal.
Find out more Kenya to raise satellite ISP licence fees 1,000%
10 January 2025
The Kenya Communication Authority (CA) has recommended a large hike in licensing fees for satellite internet service providers (ISPs) as it seeks to review the Satellite Landing Rights licence that satellite ISPs must get to operate in Kenya.
The current proposal would raise the cost of a 15-year operating licence from $12,302 to $115,331, a nearly 1,000% increase. ISPs would also have to pay a yearly fee equal to 0.4% of their overall earnings. This proposed regulation change coincides with Starlink's rapid expansion in Kenya to meet the growing demand for high-speed internet connectivity.
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How standards-driven satellite innovation can accelerate Africa’s digital transformation
31 December 2024
Yanniv Betito, EMEA Regional Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Telesat
To the outside world, much of Africa – especially the sub-Saharan – is a remote continent rich in natural beauty and resources but light on the technological progress that many countries take for granted. That perception is increasingly outdated: the region’s technology economy is seeing significant growth, with a sharp rise in mobile services penetration, innovative public-private partnerships, and investments in information and communications technology (ICT) leading the way. The World Trade Organization (WTO) even projects that African digital service exports could reach around $74 billion between 2023 and 2040, with annual growth exceeding 7%.
Find out more Keeping networks up – whatever the weather
30 December 2024
John Yates, Managing Director, Atheras
Keeping networks up – whatever the weather
Africa is full of variations of climate and geography. From the Sahara Desert to the Atlas Mountains and the Nile Valley, although 61% of the population is focused mostly in urban areas, the rest are based in rural regions where fibre is either not available or patchy in coverage.
At a time when the digital society is commonplace and the ability to access important online services such as finance, health and governance is a fundamental need, reliable broadband connectivity is essential.
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