Luxembourg-based satellite operator, SES has launched high-speed internet services at the Farchana refugee settlement in eastern Chad, marking a significant upgrade in humanitarian connectivity for thousands fleeing conflict in neighbouring countries.
According to the firm, the deployment leverages its O3b mPOWER Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation, representing the first time the emergency.lu platform (a public-private partnership led by the Luxembourg government) has utilised MEO technology to provide long-term, high-performance communications for this particular purpose.
The initiative has been rolled out as Chad becomes one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting nations per capita, receiving the highest number of displaced people across the region amidst the ongoing war in Sudan, according to the UN.
Under the Connectivity for Refugees initiative, spearheaded by UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the network provides a critical lifeline for both humanitarian organisations and displaced communities. The high-throughput, low-latency capabilities support essential services including online learning, digital skills training, and community connectivity centres, while ensuring humanitarian teams have the dependable tools required for day-to-day operations.
SES claims by integrating O3b mPOWER into the emergency.lu toolkit, the partnership, which includes Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, strengthens its ability to provide connectivity far beyond the initial days of a crisis.
This evolution from geostationary (GEO) satellites to MEO technology allows the programme to support continued access to healthcare and education when displacement and humanitarian responses extend for months.
“Connectivity can change a day and a life. With this deployment, a classroom can keep teaching and access guidance, humanitarian workers can support displaced communities, and families can stay in touch,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES.
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