Safaricom PLC, Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, has officially unveiled its plans to introduce satellite internet services in the country.
To accomplish this ambitious project, Safaricom’s parent company, Vodafone Group PLC, has entered into a partnership with AST SpaceMobile, a prominent satellite technology provider and a competitor of Starlink.
Through this collaboration, Safaricom aims to harness AST SpaceMobile’s advanced technology and infrastructure to offer reliable satellite-based connectivity to its customers across Kenya. The introduction of satellite internet will significantly enhance Safaricom’s broadband offerings, including Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and fiber optic cables.
Interestingly, Safaricom’s satellite internet service launch coincides with SpaceX’s Starlink entering the Kenyan market.
The AST SpaceMobile project took a significant step forward with the testing of its prototype satellite, Bluewalker 3, on September 10th, 2022. Designed with an aperture of 693 square feet, this satellite facilitates connectivity with cell phones via 3GPP-standard frequencies.
In the near future, the satellite will undergo official trials in Kenya, involving Safaricom and other African operators. This extensive trial will span 49 countries across Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, making use of a constellation of 200 satellites.
Upon the successful completion of these trials, AST SpaceMobile, in partnership with Vodacom, plans to expand its satellite deployments to provide seamless communications to 4G devices throughout Africa and beyond.
AST SpaceMobile, headquartered in Midland, Texas, United States, is a publicly traded company specializing in satellite design and manufacturing. Their groundbreaking SpaceMobile satellite constellation aims to create a space-based cellular broadband network, allowing ordinary smartphones to connect to satellites in areas with limited coverage, thus bridging communication gaps.
