Across the world, internet access remains a problem for certain communities. From the rural mountains of the United States to sparse regions of Africa, traditional infrastructure can’t give every internet user the same standard of service. That’s why the world’s largest companies have embraced satellite internet technology, which could make the internet more accessible for users no matter where they live.
Why Internet Access is Important
The internet has quickly become crucial to the way people work across the world and remains the ultimate hub for information and entertainment. Reliance on internet-based solutions will only become stronger in the future, as services continue to become digitized. Internet access is also widely acknowledged as an important metric of the quality of life for a region.
With internet access comes a lot of things, from convenient services to online entertainment like video-sharing or iGaming websites. With a single search, users can find endless ways to satisfy their interests by pulling up video tutorials or finding roulette games to play, often streamed live for real-time interaction between the host and players. This highlights connectivity as another reason why internet access is important – it enables individuals and communities to share information instantaneously, across vast distances. For developing regions in Africa, increased internet access can connect users to new friends and business associates across the globe.
SEACOM’s Deal With British Internet Provider
Founded in 2009, SEACOM is Africa’s first provider of broadband via submarine cable. Across the world, internet providers rely on subsea cables to more efficiently ferry data across continents. They are the backbone of modern internet infrastructure, which is why SEACOM is one of many companies dedicated to creating links with European and Asian cable systems. As you’d expect, the cables require significant investment to lay and maintain, and Africa’s cables have experienced difficulties as of late.
This is a Map of African undersea cables in Africa as of April 2024.
— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) May 14, 2024
According to @CA_Kenya, there were cable cuts at Mtunzini, South Africa EASSy and Seacom cables land. This disrupted internet access in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique, and a few other countries. https://t.co/8wAkXaFl2d pic.twitter.com/WEboBw0Nrl
That is why SEACOM has expanded into low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver internet technology. To do so, they have joined forces with Eutelsat OneWeb, the British arm of the sprawling European Eutelsat Group. OneWeb in particular is headquartered in the UK, and the UK government is one of its largest shareholders.
As per the partnership, SEACOM and OneWeb aim to launch constellations of satellites that will orbit above Africa. From that position, they can beam adequate internet services down to communities that don’t enjoy the ground infrastructure of more developed areas. This is far from a novel idea, as SpaceX’s Starlink currently operates the largest internet satellite constellation in orbit. However, according to their availability map, they only cover select regions in Africa. This year, the retail site turned tech giant Amazon also started launching satellites for Project Kuiper, a similar business model.
Unlike Starlink or Project Kuiper, SEACOM and OneWeb are focusing solely on African infrastructure. Having announced the partnership this year, it will likely take a year or longer to start building the constellation in earnest. If successful, it could make the internet more accessible than it has ever been before.