Paratus Zambia Brings Starlink Connectivity to Rural Primary School
Paratus Zambia has participated in the official handover of newly constructed facilities at Mphande Primary School, donating a Starlink satellite internet kit to connect the school’s new computer laboratory, in partnership with CFAO Mobility Zambia and World Vision Zambia.
The handover marks a significant step for the school’s nearly 500 learners, who will now benefit from new classrooms, teachers’ accommodation, improved sanitation facilities, and internet-enabled computers that provide access to digital learning resources previously beyond their reach. Located well beyond the coverage of fibre and mobile networks, Mphande Primary School had no reliable internet access prior to the initiative, making this the first real experience of fast, stable connectivity for many of its pupils.
Satellite Connectivity Where Infrastructure Falls Short
The Starlink solution was selected precisely because conventional infrastructure has yet to reach the community surrounding Mphande. As an authorised Starlink reseller and network services provider in Zambia, Paratus has been delivering satellite-based connectivity to underserved areas since signing a reseller agreement with Starlink in September 2023, shortly after Starlink launched its business services in the country in October of that year.
Paratus Zambia said the donation reflects its commitment to ensuring that access to connectivity is not determined by geography, framing the initiative as an example of what corporate social investment should look like: directing resources to where infrastructure gaps are widest and taking tangible action to address them.
Connectivity in Context
The initiative takes on added significance when set alongside Zambia’s broader digital landscape. According to DataReportal, 23.5 million cellular mobile connections were active in Zambia by the end of 2025, equivalent to 106% of the total population. Furthermore, internet penetration stood at 33%, with 7.29 million individuals online, a figure that showcases the scale of the connectivity gap that still exists across the country, particularly in rural communities such as the one surrounding Mphande.