Eutelsat and unconnected.org, a global non-profit focused on delivering meaningful internet access, have formed a partnership aimed at expanding community Wi-Fi services across Africa using Eutelsat’s Eutelsat Konnect high-throughput satellite. The collaboration is designed to improve digital connectivity in underserved and remote regions by supporting sustainable, community-driven access models.
The rollout will begin in Tanzania, where unconnected.org plans to introduce the Konnect community Wi-Fi service to local partners, including internet service providers, non-governmental organisations, system integrators and government stakeholders. The initiative is structured around a commercial framework intended to accelerate returns on investment while enabling long-term connectivity delivery in areas that are traditionally difficult to reach.
Both organisations said the Tanzanian deployment will serve as a foundation for broader expansion into other African markets, with the shared objective of extending digital access across the continent.
Powered by the Eutelsat Konnect satellite, the community Wi-Fi platform delivers high-speed internet connectivity to locations beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure. This capability is expected to support essential services such as schools, healthcare facilities and small businesses by providing reliable access to online tools and resources.
Positioned at 7 degrees East, Eutelsat Konnect is engineered to deliver high-capacity broadband services across Africa, offering operational flexibility and significant coverage to meet growing connectivity demands.
Commenting on the deal, Philippe Baudrier, Eutelsat’s Vice President for Africa, said: “Through Eutelsat Konnect, we are already seeing the tangible impact that satellite broadband can have in communities across Africa — from schools and clinics to local entrepreneurs. Partnering with unconnected.org allows us to extend this reach even further, supporting the development of sustainable, community-based connectivity that delivers real social and economic value.”
Mea Thompson, CCO, of unconnected.org, added: “Eutelsat Konnect plays a critical role in Tanzania by extending connectivity into areas that have historically been impossible to serve in a sustainable way. By lowering the cost of backhaul, it enables viable business models that allow local ISPs and community partners to achieve a return on investment while connecting the unconnected. This is exactly the kind of solution needed to scale digital access in a way that is both impactful and commercially sustainable.”
The collaboration builds on Eutelsat’s ongoing commitment to digital inclusion. At the beginning of 2025, Eutelsat reached a major milestone by connecting one million people in sub-Saharan Africa to satellite internet—two years ahead of its initial target—fulfilling its pledge under the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
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