Excerpts from the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference; Day Two
Hon Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, Uganda’s Minister of State for Information, Communications, Technology (ICT), and National Guidance, delivered a keynote address. Iyanuoluwa Ipadeola/Space in Africa
The 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference began on its first day with policy and strategy discussions, including the signing of the AU-EU Gateway programme. Panel sessions examined the adoption and…
How Large Satellite Constellations Affect Astronomy in Africa
Projected growth of major satellite constellations. Source: Media Reports, Jonathan McDowell, https://planet4589.org
In recent years, satellite technology and deployment have significantly evolved to usher in what is commonly referred to as the “NewSpace” era. This revolution has been characterised by the increased ease of access to space, a shift away from the traditional government-led…
Nigeria Targets Stronger Space Oversight in Line with Global Trends
Dr Matthew Olumide Adepoju, Director General of NASRDA and Minister of Science and Technology, HM Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, during the stakeholders workshop. Source: NASRDA
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) recently hosted a critical Space Industry Stakeholders Workshop titled “Sensitisation and Engagement of Stakeholders on the Commencement of Space Regulation,…
MTN SA and Lynk Global Trial Africa’s First Satellite-to-Phone Service
Source: MTN South Africa
MTN South Africa and LEO satellite provider Lynk Global successfully conducted Africa’s first satellite-to-mobile device phone call during a technical trial on 27 March 2025, in the sparsely populated North West province, South Africa. The trial marks a significant advancement for African telecom providers like MTN, demonstrating the potential of LEO satellites to…
Botswana Successfully Launches First Satellite, BOTSAT-1
Launch of BOTSAT-1 from a SpaceX Falcon 9 heavy rocket. Source: Space X
Botswana’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1, was successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9—Transporter 13 rideshare mission on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at 06:39 am GMT, carrying 74 satellites. These included…
Nilesat Reports USD 57.7 Million Profit in FY 2024, a 31.8% Increase from the Previous Year
The Egyptian Satellite Company (Nilesat) reported a revenue of USD 101.14 million for the full year ended December 31, 2024, marking a marginal decrease of 0.67% from the previous FY revenue of USD 101.82 million. During the same period, the company reported a net profit of USD 57.7 million for FY 2024, up from the USD 43.75 million reported in FY 2023. This information was disclosed in the…
Key Insights from the 2025 Space Industry Outlook Webinar
Today, Space in Africa hosted the tenth edition of its webinar series, 2025 Industry Outlook: Implementation and Impact.” The session explored the remarkable progress made in Africa’s space sector in recent years, with 2024 standing out as another critical year for the continent’s expanding space ambitions. The discussion highlighted key industry trends, including government-led space programmes,…
BOTSAT’s Success Story: A Blueprint for Emerging Space Nations
Source: Endurosat
With the prospective launch of the country’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1, in 2025, Botswana is positioning itself to maximise the opportunities in the rapidly growing space industry. The development of BOTSAT-1 is particularly remarkable given that Botswana currently lacks both a space agency and a space policy framework to drive and coordinate such space activities. This…
Zephyr Completes 13-Day Stratospheric Flight from Kenya, Advancing Global HAPS Operations
Zephyr post-landing following its 13-day stratospheric flight. Source: AALTO
AALTO HAPS Limited, an Airbus subsidiary specialising in the design, manufacture, and operation of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), has successfully completed its first stratospheric flight and testing from the newly established AALTOPORT in Laikipia County, Kenya.
Flying above 60,000 feet for over 13…
Nilesat Records USD 50.8 Million in Revenue in H1 2024
For the six months that ended in June 2024, Nilesat recorded USD 50.80 million in revenue, a slight decrease compared to USD 51.19 million in the first half of 2023 but a marginal improvement from USD 50.15 million in the same period in 2022. This trend shows that Nilesat maintained a stable revenue base over three years. While the minor drop in revenue between 2023 and 2024 may seem negligible,…