Satellite for All: How GSOA is Driving Inclusive Connectivity in Africa

The Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) is the leading CEO-driven body representing the satellite ecosystem, from operators across all orbits to manufacturers, launchers, ground segment players, and beyond. GSOA engages with regulators, policymakers, and global institutions like ITU, 3GPP, UNOOSA, DIFI, and WEF, advocating for inclusive and technology-neutral connectivity worldwide.

In an exclusive interview with Space in Africa, Isabelle Mauro, GSOA’s Director General, revealed how the organisation is reshaping Africa’s connectivity landscape, from advocating for streamlined licensing to deploying life-changing satellite applications in education, healthcare, and rural development. 

Can you share a concrete example where GSOA’s advocacy impacted regulation, such as spectrum allocation or landing rights, in a key African market?  

A strong example is our work with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), with whom we signed an MoU for capacity building. We recently co-hosted a successful workshop in Nairobi on “Satellite Technologies for Development,” where we emphasised the satellite’s role in bridging the digital divide.

We’ve also contributed extensively to ATU’s working groups, particularly on satellite licensing. Our input shaped guidelines on Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs), which have informed national policies across the region. The result: faster market entry, reduced red tape, and expanded rural connectivity.

Where are you seeing the most progress, and the biggest challenges in harmonising satellite licensing across Africa? 

West Africa, especially ECOWAS, is showing great momentum, with increased cooperation on spectrum management and licensing. Sub-regional agreements on ESIMs in SADC and the East Africa Community are promising and could expand continent-wide.

However, there are still countries where licensing remains fragmented, opaque, or biased toward terrestrial services, delaying rollouts and limiting service access in rural areas.

Some regulators treat satellite as a ‘last resort.’ How is GSOA’s Regional Group for Africa addressing this mindset?  

We’re very hands-on, using real-world case studies and recent reports to show that satellite is often the most viable first option, especially in remote or disaster-prone areas.

Our Regional Group for Africa directly engages regulators across the continent, challenging assumptions and highlighting cost-effective satellite deployment models. As deployment costs drop, satellite becomes increasingly competitive with terrestrial alternatives; a message we deliver on the ground.

How does GSOA reconcile local space ambitions with the interests of international satellite operators?  

We don’t see a contradiction. Many GSOA members, such as Nilesat, NigComSat, and Rascomstar, are national or regional champions already partnering with African governments.

Furthermore, we support homegrown satellite ventures and help them connect with global networks and regulatory expertise. At the same time, we advocate for balanced market access so that end users benefit from domestic and international services.

GSOA emphasises ‘connecting the unconnected,’ but critics argue that satellite remains too costly for rural users. In which African markets has GSOA-driven innovation (e.g., LEO partnerships, hybrid mobile-satellite solutions) reduced end-user prices?

While GSOA is not a commercial entity, our members are active in this space. In Nigeria, for example, GSOA members have worked with telcos to deliver satellite backhaul that lowers the per-user cost of mobile broadband in rural areas. Deploying satellite backhaul is much cheaper than rolling out hundreds of kilometres of fibre.

In DRC, for example, collaboration between terrestrial and satellite connectivity is needed to jointly develop a practical business plan and customised commercial model that works for the mobile operator’s unique business needs while minimising implementation and operating costs, enabling immediate reach and 3G connectivity to the highland villages of South Kivu. The availability of telecommunications service in more than 800 rural sites has opened the door for job opportunities, new business ventures and money transfers, enhancing the health and well-being of people across the region and improving security by making it easier to reach authorities.

As volume scales and competition increase, satellite service costs drop, especially with community Wi-Fi and hybrid mobile-satellite deployments. The myth that satellites are inherently unaffordable just doesn’t hold anymore.

Beyond connectivity, can you highlight a GSOA-backed project in Africa where satellite data directly improved livelihoods, with metrics?

Certainly, in Kenya, Project iMlango is a first-of-its-kind e-learning partnership, created to deliver improved educational outcomes in maths, literacy and life skills for marginalised children. The project provides high-speed internet connectivity to rural and remote schools, tailored online educational content, in-field capacity in technology and support resources, and real-time project monitoring/measurement. The satellite broadband connectivity powers the programme to ensure e-learning is successfully implemented in 245 remote and rural schools across Kenya. Students who have access to the individualised learning platform for 60 minutes per week improve their “maths age” by on average, 18 months throughout the project’s lifetime.

Another standout example is the satellite-enabled maternity clinic programme in the DRC. Nurses use smart glasses to conduct teleconsultations with doctors at district hospitals, leading to a 40% increase in referrals and significantly improving maternal healthcare outcomes.

The ‘parachute project’ critique persists: foreign operators win contracts, but local stakeholders lack long-term benefits. How is GSOA ensuring African partners retain value, e.g., regional hubs, tech transfer, or revenue-sharing models?

Most of our GSOA members operate a B2B model, i.e. they partner with local stakeholders to provide them with satellite capacity, and those local partners deliver the services to the end consumers. It is a real partnership that benefits international operators and local service providers. A few other concrete examples of local value retention:

• In DRC, over 200 field engineers were trained and employed to install and maintain rural satellite-connected sites.
• In Côte d’Ivoire, satellite projects enabled microfinance cooperatives in 18 rural villages to use satellite connectivity for real-time financial inclusion initiatives.

These are partnerships rooted in skills transfer, sustainability, and local empowerment.

What motivated GSOA to support the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference, and how does this align with your broader goals?  

This conference is a critical platform for engagement with African policymakers, space agencies, and industry leaders. We saw real value in supporting it, not just as a sponsor, but as a partner shaping conversations around space-enabled development.

It aligns perfectly with our mission: promoting inclusive connectivity and building regulatory environments that support innovation. Africa is a key growth region, and we want to ensure satellite is a foundational part of the continent’s digital and economic roadmap, not an afterthought.

In addition, the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference reflects our commitment to regional engagement, capacity building, and showcasing how satellite solutions directly support African development goals. It underscores our collaborative, technology-neutral approach to universal connectivity.

Some final thoughts?  

We see Africa not just as a market, but as a leader in shaping the future of global connectivity. The innovation and ambition we see here set the tone for space governance and infrastructure equity.

GSOA is committed to supporting this progress, ensuring satellites aren’t just part of Africa’s future but also a core enabler of it.