Schalk Erasmus, CEO, Paratus Group.

As network services provider Paratus celebrates its 20th anniversary, the company is focusing on additional expansion in Central and West Africa over the next five years.

The Paratus Group, today, said this is in line with its goal of doubling revenue in the same period.

The group outlined some crucial steps it is taking to meet these objectives.

One of these is the implementation of worldwide distribution and sales/services agreements to bring low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services to remote, rural, and underserved regions and communities across the African continent.

The group is also looking to complete a teleport in South Africa and a second teleport in Luanda, Angola, before the end of the calendar year.

Paratus is also constructing a data centre in Angola, which it claims would be the largest in the country, and it’s fifth in the group. Construction will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024.

Additionally, the final leg of the group’s Trans Kalahari Network, which includes cross-border connections between Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia, will be finished in November 2023.

Since launching in Angola in 2003, the group has operating companies in seven southern African countries with satellite connectivity to a further 35 countries on the continent; points of presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe; and to have built and run four internationally accredited data centres in three African countries.

Schalk Erasmus, CEO, Paratus Group, says: “We believe that fast, safe and ubiquitous connectivity is the essential force that will make Africa great, and this is critically important if Africa is to thrive and compete equally on the world stage.”