Avanti, Africa’s leading satellite partner, keeps eyes on connecting 871m people

By Alexander Chiejina.

With market share two times that of its nearest competitor, Avanti Communications has been named the market-leading high-throughput satellite capacity partner in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second consecutive year that results from the “NSR Satellite Capacity Supply & Demand Analysis” reports would be putting Avanti in this position, following the release of its 20th edition. In a statement made available to Business A.M. from London, NSR’s annual report is described as one of the satellite industry’s most trusted and comprehensive sources for satellite capacity analysis, offering insight into key market developments and dynamics.

Kyle Whitehill, chief executive officer, Avanti Communications, reacting to the achievement, said: “Africa is a major focus for us and so we are delighted to be recognised as the market leader, but we won’t stop there. For us, Africa’s potential is limitless and the role that we can play in unlocking this is providing connectivity solutions. Connectivity is an enabler that provides vital resources and opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive, which is why we won’t stop until we have connected the 871 million people currently living without a basic internet connection.”

Available information shows that Avanti is significantly committed to Africa and has ambitions to accelerate growth across the region through local partnerships and the rollout of connectivity solutions; connecting hard-to-reach rural communities and improving network resiliency for critical communications infrastructure is central to this strategy, the company said.

This year, Avanti moved to solidify its African presence by opening its continental hub in Lagos, Nigeria, Africa’s largest city by gross domestic product size. Figures from the company show that to date, Avanti has connected more than 1,000 villages and schools across Africa, providing services in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and South Sudan and it has plans to connect a further 10,000 sites over the next five years across Africa, impacting millions of lives and enabling communities to enjoy a connected life. Avanti has invested over $800 million in Africa and already has a growing footprint across the continent. More than a fifth of the company’s employees are based in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Angola, and Benin.