Avanti Communications is a multi-orbit connectivity solutions provider renowned for providing high-throughput Ka-band satellite connectivity to the global communications industry. The company has strategically developed a robust portfolio of assets in orbit and on the ground, facilitating rural backhaul services and offering mission-critical satellite capacity to its esteemed communication partners.

In Africa, Avanti has made significant strides in enhancing its service delivery and on-the-ground presence, including an investment surpassing USD 800 million. The company has established offices strategically located in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa and also holds a presence in Angola and Senegal. This expansion aims to cater to the needs of its clientele within the region, underlining Avanti’s commitment to fostering a tangible and impactful presence in Africa. With a strategic vision, Avanti expects Africa to become its primary revenue source by 2026. This forward-looking approach signifies the company’s dedication to further solidifying its position within the African market, aiming not only for a presence in the continent but also for substantial growth and influence.

On the sidelines of the AfricaCom 2023, Space in Africa had the opportunity to chat with Avanti Communications’ CEO, Kyle Whitehill. This conversation offered insights into Avanti’s current services while shedding light on the company’s anticipated offerings and projected advancements.

Companies often articulate their intentions and plans easily, but translating those aspirations into actions and implementations is a different challenge altogether. Avanti Communications’ African activities are well-known, but I’m curious to understand the specific, quantifiable impacts of your initiatives or collaborations in the region this year. What do you consider the most influential endeavours or partnerships you have undertaken?

In 2023, our efforts yielded significant milestones – notably, our expansion into nearly 1,000 villages across Northern Nigeria. Collaborating with tower companies like IHS Towers, American Tower Corporation (ATC) and Africa Mobile Networks (AMN), we have amplified MTN’s network accessibility in these remote areas. Witnessing the profound impact on these communities, where people experience voice and data networks for the first time, has been immensely rewarding.

Beyond our established offices in Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), and Lagos (Nigeria), we have expanded our physical presence in other countries like Angola and Senegal. Our commitment to expanding our team across the continent signifies our dedication to reaching more customers and bolstering connectivity where it’s most needed. With nearly 50 personnel, this expansion is a testament to our commitment to broadening our customer base and investing in capabilities, setting us apart from other regional satellite operators.

Moreover, our digital education initiative, iMlango, initially thriving in Kenya with 300,000 schoolchildren benefiting daily, has sprouted into nine pilot programmes across various African nations. By collaborating closely with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) on the Girls’ Education Awareness Programme (GEAP), we aim to demonstrate the transformative power of connected schools and internet access in enhancing African educational opportunities. This is a pivotal step towards fostering a well-educated populace capable of driving Africa’s future growth through employment and community development.

Our focus remains steadfast on investing in Africa’s potential by extending networks and empowering its people through education and connectivity. This commitment aligns with the widespread belief across the continent that sustained growth hinges on a well-educated and empowered population.

You are exploring a partnership with China’s StarWin Science and Technology (StarWin) to test electronically steered antennas (ESAs) on the Hylas-4 satellite. How excited are you about this collaboration, and what do you think will impact service delivery in Africa and worldwide?

Ensuring robust border security and personal safety for citizens across African nations is paramount. Through our extensive engagement with governments across the continent, one resounding truth has emerged: the imperative need for heightened vigilance and communication across vast territories. The sheer expanse of these countries, coupled with the extensive borders, poses an immense challenge for effective surveillance and protection against threats that may permeate these frontiers.

The aim of this partnership stems from our commitment to delivering the very best service to our customers and users. We wanted to introduce a highly versatile terminal – a portable solution that can be effortlessly carried and deployed by a single military personnel. Termed as a ‘person pack,’ this innovative system comprises an antenna integrated into a backpack, enabling rapid deployment and connectivity to higher authorities or regional outposts. Imagine a military patrol traversing its border – this portable terminal empowers them to halt, swiftly set up the steerable antenna, establish satellite connectivity within moments, and seamlessly relay critical information to the central command or regional hubs.

The agility offered by this technology is paramount in the context of border security. The adage ‘standing still invites danger’ holds particularly true; prolonged stationary positions make troops vulnerable to potential threats. However, with the swift deployment capability of the steerable terminal, communication can be established swiftly, ensuring timely updates and rapid responses to emerging situations. This agility is the linchpin in maintaining a strategic advantage over potential adversaries.

This on-the-move terminal is not merely a technological marvel; it represents a fundamental tool in governments striving to uphold security measures and respond swiftly to emerging threats, fostering a safer environment for their people.

How have governments and stakeholders in Africa responded to your initiative? Are they open to adopting this technology despite security sensitivities, or are there reservations due to the preference for handling such matters internally?

Governments in West Africa, specifically, are showing immense enthusiasm towards this opportunity, given the pressing need to safeguard some of the world’s most dangerous borders. For instance, in Senegal, certain regions are recognised as highly hazardous zones. The commitment of these governments to embrace innovation stems from their acute awareness of the importance of protecting their military personnel and civilian populations.

However, it’s important to note that from my experiences in engaging with these governments, I have consistently seen an eagerness to explore the potential of this technology. Their queries predominantly revolve around cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment capabilities. 

What is particularly striking is their genuine interest and engagement – they grasp the significance of this technological advancement in bolstering their security apparatus and are keen on understanding the practicalities of implementation. While financial concerns are still present, they have not deterred these governments from recognising the value proposition of this solution.

Understanding diverse regulatory landscapes becomes crucial when expanding across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Angola, and Senegal. Can you outline the strategies to navigate these varied regulations while aligning them with your visions and missions for each country?

Our approach to understanding and engaging with Africa’s diverse landscape is unique. The misconception that Africa is a homogeneous entity is a prevalent challenge many companies face. Our team’s extensive experience of living and working across the continent has instilled a profound realisation: Africa is not a monolith but a conglomerate of 54 unique countries, each with its distinct cultures and even subcultures within them. Ethiopia’s rich diversity is a prime example, showcasing the multitude of ethnicities and cultures within a single nation.

Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all mentality, Avanti delves into the core needs of each nation. This individualised approach involves a meticulous analysis of what each country requires. For instance, recognising the significance of connectivity in Niger’s educational institutions illustrates a targeted intervention to enhance educational capabilities. Similarly, our focus on border security in Nigeria and building resilient networks in South Africa highlights the tailored strategies based on specific regional needs.

Additionally, our commitment to investing in the people of each country is striking. Our approach is not merely about introducing products or services but about making a meaningful and sustainable impact aligned with the unique needs and aspirations of the population. A  people-centric approach allows for a deeper understanding of the diverse requirements across the African continent, showcasing a commitment to enhancing lives and infrastructure tailored to each nation’s needs.

Avanti’s move to become a multi-orbit operator involves partnering with a leading LEO operator to procure LEO capacity. What long-term outcomes do you foresee from this strategic shift?

Let us delve into two crucial dimensions, both pivotal in shaping the satellite industry. The landscape within this sector has undergone substantial transformation in the last five years, and credit must be given to Elon Musk for significantly elevating the industry’s profile. His sheer personality and global reputation have made satellite technology a far more relevant and sought-after proposition than it has been in recent years. As a result, this newfound value attributed to satellites by customers marks a significant shift.

Additionally, satellite operators were historically confined within the boundaries of their respective networks. If an operator was based in Europe, their focus remained within that region, and likewise for operators in America or elsewhere. However, with these transformative shifts in play, we at Avanti recognised the need to reassess our value proposition and chart a trajectory for a successful future unbound by the constraints of the traditional satellite model.

Our primary focus revolved around the customer. The most successful companies worldwide have thrived by crafting compelling consumer propositions. Take Coca-Cola, for instance, whose “Within Arms Reach of Desire” mantra ensured their product’s availability globally. Similarly, Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign centred around encouraging action without concern for the specifics – just the act of running. Translating this customer-focused philosophy into our model, we aim to alleviate our clients’ concerns regarding the intricacies of satellite networks. A bank in South Africa seeking network resilience need not worry about technical jargon like Ka, Ku, C, or X band. Instead, we focus on understanding their needs and providing solutions to enhance their network’s resilience.

The future trajectory of Avanti is rooted in collaborating closely with our customers to offer tailored solutions through strategic partnerships. Whether it involves a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) solution in the Ku band or a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) solution in the Ka band, we aim to provide the best-fit solution for our customers’ specific requirements.

In the past, we have often positioned ourselves as a regional operator capable of servicing certain areas. However, our paradigm is shifting – we aim to avoid being just a Ku band operator in a particular geography. We pledge to source and deliver the best network solution wherever our customers are globally. This shift signifies our commitment to better respond to the diverse needs of our customer base while continuing to deliver high-performance solutions on a global scale. 

What were the key highlights from AfricaCom 2023, and how do they influence Avanti’s perspective on the continent?

The resounding call for an independent, continent-wide satellite network across Africa struck me profoundly in recent conversations, particularly with representatives from the banking and NGO sectors. Presently, numerous satellite operators compete on a country-by-country basis. However, industries such as banking and NGOs focused on education and healthcare express a shared sentiment: coordinating multiple satellite networks across diverse regions is proving challenging. They seek a unified solution and are looking toward us, expressing the need for a streamlined, comprehensive approach.

Consequently, we want to steer Avanti towards leading the charge in creating this Pan-African satellite network. The vision is to present a unified front, offering a single voice and a cohesive platform. This network would enable initiatives like a Pan African schools programme that aims to connect every African country by 2030 without the burden of navigating dealings with multiple satellite operators. Instead, as an industry, we aspire to collaborate and collectively deliver what could potentially be the most impactful tool for Africa’s advancement. Six years ago, during my first-ever AfricaCom event, I remarked that connectivity is the only way to elevate Africa. That assertion remains valid, and the means to realise this vision lies in the concerted efforts of the satellite industry. We must work collaboratively to fulfil this crucial need, transcending individual interests for the collective betterment of the continent. This unified approach is the pathway to unlocking Africa’s potential through comprehensive and accessible satellite connectivity.

What’s the optimal satellite acquisition model for Africa on a regional scale? Is it more beneficial for entities like ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC to develop regional satellites individually, or should they focus on procuring necessary capacity from satellite operators?

It’s becoming increasingly challenging for even major satellite operators to justify building another GEO satellite. The market is experiencing an influx of capacity over the next 5 to 10 years across GEO, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and LEO satellites. Given the current landscape, investing up to USD 500 million in building a satellite and the associated ground infrastructure for an African country will be hard to rationalise. With capacity being deployed across various satellite orbits, there’s a lack of a viable business case for such a significant investment.

Reflecting on past initiatives, their failures often resulted from unwilling customers ready to pay for the services provided. For instance, while there’s a clear need to connect thousands of schools in Africa, many countries lack the financial means to achieve this. External funders like the World Bank and African Development Bank have substantial resources, but their challenge lies in execution.

Strategically leveraging existing African networks and capabilities to construct a unified African satellite network would utilise the infrastructure and ground stations already in place, along with the expertise in deploying terminals even in rural areas. Rather than following traditional approaches that often start with fibre or fixed wireless access, which pose challenges in Africa, the idea is to reverse engineer this process.

This realisation has recently become a motivation for me. Ironically, while there is significant funding and demand, the challenge remains in effectively matching these elements. The objective should now involve finding innovative ways to bridge this gap, effectively utilising available resources to meet Africa’s connectivity needs.