.jpg)
Across Africa, satellite technology is opening up new possibilities for connectivity, especially in remote areas without access to traditional infrastructure like fibre or cellular networks.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services enable digital transformation in areas that would otherwise have been left behind, providing access to economic opportunities, education, and healthcare.
Satellite connectivity enables the fast and reliable internet access that many of Africa’s industry sectors rely on, with benefits ranging from improved operational efficiencies to better market access and enhanced competitiveness.
Africa’s technology companies have a crucial role to play in transforming the continent’s digital landscape using satellite technology. For instance, pan-African technology company Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid) has partnered with the world's first GEO-LEO satellite operator, Eutelsat/OneWeb, to bring Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services to even the remotest areas of multiple countries in Africa.
How LEO is adding value in Botswana
In Botswana, LEO connectivity is already demonstrating its value across various sectors, from humanitarian outreach to national defence and public awareness campaigns.
When UNICEF hosted an event in the village of Mochudi, LEO connectivity ensured stable internet access throughout the day, supporting real-time communication and coordination. Similarly, during an exhibition hosted by the Botswana Defence Force at one of its camps, around 2,000 users were able to access the internet via LEO, reinforcing its potential for enhancing connectivity in remote military locations. Most recently, on Safer Internet Day 2025, the Ministry of Communications and Innovation used LEO services in Tshesebe, to enable digital participation and ensure the event’s visibility, further highlighting the technology’s role in promoting inclusive connectivity.
Contributing to Botswana’s broader digital and economic growth
On a larger scale, satellite connectivity is set to play an essential role in Botswana’s digital journey. In January 2024, 77.3 percent of the country’s population had access to the internet. With the global coverage offered by LEO satellites, this number is expected to grow even further as users in remote and rural areas gain access to connectivity.
For Liquid, this is an opportunity to bridge Botswana’s digital divide by providing enhanced connectivity support for businesses and communities. It also demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting the Botswana government’s Vision 2036 aspirations, especially its aim of empowering citizens to benefit from the digital transformation agenda.
Such partnerships have the potential to be a game-changer for Botswana, bringing world-class connectivity to businesses and communities in every corner of the country. The benefits for the country are immense. Fast, reliable internet has the potential to grow businesses, fuel economic growth, and drive the country’s digital transformation.
Empowering businesses and communities
Satellite connectivity presents many advantages to Botswana’s industries, businesses, and individual users, including:
- Satellite connectivity is perfect for rural and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure like cellular or fibre networks is unavailable.
- VSAT users, even in previously unconnected areas, will benefit from high-speed internet access that will help their businesses thrive and contribute to the local economy.
- Satellite technology is transforming industries that are vital contributors to Botswana’s economy, like mining, agriculture, and tourism.
- With LEO satellites being so much closer to the earth than their GEO counterparts, users of real-time applications like video conferencing, and telemedicine will experience significant benefits.
- People on the move, like those in the transportation, aviation, or maritime industries, will enjoy uninterrupted connectivity.
- Service disruptions are reduced; if a satellite loses signal, another can replace it immediately.
- The faster, more resilient satellite connectivity means users can leverage emerging technologies like IoT, 5G, SDWAN, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence more easily
In addition, beyond conventional offerings, LEO-enabled solutions extend to enterprise access with Internet breakout, including Point-to-Point services, providing a versatile and robust solution for diverse business needs. The long-term benefits of technology like LEO satellites are also clear: connecting and empowering people and laying the foundation for a more digitally inclusive Botswana and a more digitally inclusive Africa.
For collaborations like this to work, the focus should be on more than just services; it needs to be about launching opportunities for businesses and communities in Africa that extend beyond connectivity, fostering progress and innovation across the continent.