Press release -
Eutelsat and unconnected.org partner to deliver affordable satellite-powered community Wi-Fi in Tanzania, with plans to extend across Africa
- Leveraging the EUTELSAT KONNECT high-throughput satellite
- Showcasing the ability of satellite to deliver reliable, affordable connectivity in unserved and underserved regions
- Building on Eutelsat’s milestone of connecting one million people in Sub-Saharan Africa through satellite broadband
Paris, 11 February 2026 – Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 – Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) and unconnected.org, a global non-profit organization focused on delivering “Meaningful Internet For All”, have entered into a partnership to expand access to community Wi-Fi across Africa leveraging Eutelsat’s EUTELSAT KONNECT high-throughput satellite.
The partnership will launch in Tanzania, where unconnected.org will introduce the KONNECT community Wi-Fi service to local partners – including ISPs, NGOs, system integrators, and government stakeholders through a commercial model designed to accelerate return on investment, expand digital access in underserved and hard to reach places, and support long term delivery.
The initiative will also lay the groundwork for expansion into additional African countries, as the two organizations collaborate to extend digital access across the continent.
Powered by the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite, the Community Wi-Fi service provides high-speed connectivity to locations beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, enabling schools, healthcare centers and small businesses to access essential online resources.
Positioned at the 7° East orbital position, EUTELSAT KONNECT is a high-throughput satellite offering unprecedented operational flexibility and delivering significant resources for broadband services across Africa.
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, said “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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About Eutelsat
Eutelsat is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. Eutelsat was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 33 Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. Eutelsat addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes around 6,300 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat's unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and Eutelsat employs more than 1,600 people across more than 75 countries. Eutelsat is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL).
Find out more at www.eutelsat.com
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DISCLAIMER
The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management’s views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable.
