Avanti awarded 2023 Better Satellite Award for expanding digital inclusion in Nigeria

Business a.m

Satellite communications company, Avanti Communications, has been honoured with one of Space & Satellite Professionals International’s (SSPI) 2023 Better Satellite Awards. The award recognises Avanti’s work connecting ultra-rural villages in Nigeria to the internet for the first time, using satellite technology.

The EXTEND ultra-rural solution from Avanti Communications is an innovative satellite service that is transforming the lives of people living in ultra-rural villages in Nigeria. It has played a key role in the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) 2020 National Broadband Plan, which aims to achieve 90 per cent population coverage and a 70 per cent penetration rate by 2025.

By providing reliable connectivity to underserved communities, the EXTEND solution has enabled a host of benefits, such as improved education and healthcare, and increased business opportunities.

Avanti’s EXTEND solution is not only transforming the mobile network coverage landscape in Nigeria but also setting a benchmark for other countries with similar geographical and infrastructural challenges. The solution unlocks access to vital services such as online education, telehealth, and digital commerce, which were previously out of reach due to a lack of connectivity. The project has also created over 200 skilled field engineering jobs. In recognition of these successes, the EXTEND programme was honored by the Nigerian telecoms industry in the 2021 and 2022 awards.

By 2023, Avanti had connected over 500 ultra-rural sites in 21 Nigerian states, providing 2G and 3G connectivity to 2.5 million people who had previously been unconnected. Prior to this development, these individuals had to travel by foot or local bus to the nearest town with coverage to use their mobile phones.

With the initial 500 sites successfully installed, Avanti is now collaborating with local partners to connect 10,000 rural sites over the next five years. This ambitious goal will is expected to bring connectivity to millions more Nigerians, opening up new opportunities and transforming their lives.

Avanti’s commitment to the sustainability of the service is demonstrated by its provision of skills and training to local field teams. This approach enables the sites to be maintained by a locally-based crew, rather than relying solely on Avanti’s field technicians. This ensures that the service is resilient and not dependent on a single source of expertise.

The introduction of reliable connectivity has made a huge difference in the lives of the people served by EXTEND. The time and money previously spent on travelling to neighbouring cities for mobile access have been significantly reduced, allowing residents to focus on other priorities.

As a result of the availability of connectivity, small businesses have been able to flourish in the now-connected villages. Examples include resellers of SIM cards, phone charging and repair facilities, and a host of other new businesses. These businesses have brought increased economic activity to the villages and created opportunities for local people.