Angola Launches Conecta Angola TV White Space Programme to Bridge Rural Connectivity Gap
Angola’s Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS) has officially launched the Conecta Angola TV White Space (TVWS) programme, introducing a connectivity solution designed to bring internet access to schools and communities in areas with limited conventional telecommunications coverage.
The launch ceremony took place on 13 July at Complexo Escolar 1024 Lda and Secondary School No. 1025, both located in the Ramiros district of Luanda, where the technology had already been installed. The event also served as the inauguration of the country’s first computer laboratories equipped with space-based applications, coordinated through the Office for the Management of the National Space Programme (GGPEN), which sits within MINTTICS.
How the Technology Works
The Conecta Angola TVWS programme combines the capabilities of the ANGOSAT-2 satellite with TV White Space technology to deliver broadband connectivity to remote communities. ANGOSAT-2 provides the satellite backhaul link, while TVWS distributes internet locally to schools, health facilities, public administrations, businesses, and households, covering several kilometres from a single VSAT access point.
TV White Space technology works by using unoccupied television broadcast frequencies to deliver internet access in an efficient, secure, and geographically extensive manner, with a potential reach of up to 10 kilometres from the receiving antenna. The approach reduces the number of VSAT stations required and is presented by the government as a scalable pathway to accelerating digital inclusion nationwide, particularly in localities where traditional solutions face technical or economic constraints.
Space Applications in the Classroom
The computer laboratories inaugurated at the event were fitted out by FADCOM, which supplied the computers and associated equipment, while the applications were developed under Angola’s National Space Programme. The new tools allow students to explore satellite imagery, use geospatial applications, and interact with technology solutions linked to the space sector, bringing them closer to science, innovation, and the professions of the future.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mário Oliveira, Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, said the programme reinforces the national strategy for digital transformation and inclusion. He noted that the government has already provided internet access in more than 100 classrooms, connected six universities, and created more than 180 free internet access points across the country.
Digital Inclusion as a National Priority
The initiative sits within Angola’s broader commitment to leveraging its national space assets for socioeconomic development. By combining satellite infrastructure with an accessible last-mile distribution technology, the Conecta Angola TVWS programme offers a practical model for reaching communities that conventional networks have yet to serve, with free internet access to schools and communities at its core.