Vodacom Group and Starlink have formed a landmark partnership to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband Internet to millions of businesses across Africa and expand rural network coverage.
Under the agreement, the telco will be authorised to resell Starlink equipment and services to enterprise and small business customers in the region, while retaining the flexibility to create localised value propositions that cater to the individual requirements and affordability issues of the African market.
According to the companies, the collaboration marks a crucial step in bridging the digital divide and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, education, and innovation in the continent.
The move, according to Vodacom, aligns with its vision 2030 strategy to grow its customer base to 260 million and its financial services customers to 120 million within five years.
By leveraging the SpaceX-owned satellite service as a complementary layer, the pan-African operator is edging closer to universal coverage, it said.
Additionally, integrating Starlink’s satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s mobile network will accelerate network coverage expansion in rural areas, while increasing network performance.
The companies say the collaboration aims to deliver robust connectivity to remote schools, health centres, and communities, empowering millions with access to digital services and information.
Commenting on the agreement, Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Starlink, a move that accelerates our mission to connect every African to the Internet. Low-Earth orbit satellite technology will help bridge the digital divide where traditional infrastructure is not feasible, and this partnership will unlock new possibilities for the unconnected.”
For Chad Gibbs, vice president of Starlink operations at SpaceX, the partnership is about expanding connectivity across the diaspora and solidifying the business’ extensive footprint.
“Starlink is already serving people, businesses, and organisations in 25 African countries. By collaborating with Vodacom, it can deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to even more customers, transforming lives and communities across the continent.”
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