Eutelsat, NEC XON partner for Sub-Saharan African connectivity.

The Eutelsat Group and NEC XON have signed a multi-year master distribution agreement to bring high-quality, low-Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The agreement encompasses services, equipment installation, and staff training across the region.

Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO satellite-based network is expected to provide low-latency connectivity to support rapid digital economic growth.

The companies revealed the integration with NEC XON's ICT services would enable connectivity designed for the demands of the African continent.

Furthermore, the agreement provides for a bandwidth- and service-level agreement to ensure speed quality.

Wally Beelders, executive: communications solutions, NEC XON, said the collaboration signifies a move towards a more connected Sub-Saharan Africa.

"This is in line with our commitment to equipping businesses across the continent with solutions that drive growth and innovation," Beelders said.

Cyril Dujardin, GM: Connectivity, Eutelsat OneWeb, said: "This partnership demonstrates the LEO's power to transcend geographical constraints and unlock new applications, such as connected agriculture, connected mine sites, connected enterprise and local government e-services."

LEO satellites are lauded as the solution for connecting remote rural areas to the internet when traditional terrestrial or cell-based internet connections are not an option.