Rethinking satellite connectivity: Bridging the digital divide in the SADC

AS SOMEONE who has spent decades working at the intersection of telecommunications policy, spectrum management, and infrastructure development, I've seen firsthand how connectivity can transform lives, economies and entire regions.

- PETER ZIMRI

Yet, despite our best efforts, large parts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) remain digitally excluded. The time has come for us to rethink our approach, and recalibrate our strategies, especially when it comes to satellite connectivity.

The recently released report, Unlocking Growth in the SADC: Harnessing the Potential of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Systems commissioned by Amazon, makes a compelling case for why Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems must be central to our digital strategy.

The numbers speak for themselves: $16.9 billion in annual economic benefits, $10.3 billion in infrastructure cost savings, and millions of people brought online.

But beyond the figures lies a deeper truth. NGSO systems offer us a chance to leapfrog legacy limitations and build a truly inclusive digital future with significantly improved affordability. This is critical factor in our region, where affordability remains a primary barrier to connectivity.

The connectivity gap is still too wide. Despite progress, the SADC region still lags behind global benchmarks. As of 2023, our average 4G mobile network population coverage was just 77%, compared to the global average of 90%.

Geographical coverage stood at 75%, leaving a quarter of our region outside any network footprint. And even where coverage exists, affordability, device access, and digital literacy continue to hold back usage.

“Significant investment in infrastructure is needed to drive Internet coverage and usage in the region,” the report notes. “Various challenges, including low population density in certain areas and terrain-based constraints, must first be addressed”