Microsoft partners Viasat to deliver internet access to 5 million Africans

By Chisom Nwatu

Microsoft has partnered with Viasat to help deliver internet access to 10 million people around the globe, including five million located across Africa under the Microsoft Airband Initiative.

Viasat, a global communications company, is the first satellite partner to work with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative and together, they are committed to deepening Airband’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States, as well as prioritise expanding the programme to Senegal,Angola and other countries in Africa to deliver much needed internet connection, often for the first time.

This first of its kind global partnership for Airband is an important step in reaching the Initiative’s expanded goal of delivering internet access to a quarter of a billion people across the world, including 100 million people on the continent of Africa, by the end of 2025.

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Working together, the companies aim to combine expertise and assets to help enable telehealth, distance learning and education, precision agriculture, clean power and other services to reach new areas through the transformational provision of power and connectivity. The companies will also collaborate to provide and pilot technologies including, but not limited to, satellites-both Geostationary Orbit and Low Earth Orbit (LEO)) and fixed wireless.

The companies are also optimistic that focusing a large portion of this new partnership on Africa, will enable them to deliver connectivity and digital literacy for better education, healthcare and economic opportunity in critical markets

Commenting on Africa’s digital ecosystem, Kunle Awosika, managing director, Africa Transformation Office, noted that while the African opportunity is immense, one of the challenges facing the continent is infrastructure expansion which would enable the acceleration of digital transformation and facilitate a connected African continent.

“Critical infrastructure enablers are needed to accelerate digital transformation and the adoption of digital technologies. The Airband Initiative is vital in helping to accelerate broadband access for rural communities,” Awosika remarked.

Mark Dankberg, CEO and Chairman of Viasat, pointed out that connecting the world is an expansive and challenging goal. He, however, noted that it is equally important that it is done in a way that is sustainable, responsible, and inclusive.

“Viasat’s mission is to keep space safe and accessible for everyone by responsibly using it as a shared resource to benefit humanity. The partnership with Microsoft is another important step in bringing affordable internet service across Africa, Latin America and the U.S., as both companies continue breaking down barriers to bridge the digital divide and make significant progress towards digital equity and inclusion,” Dankberg said.

Through Airband, Microsoft has already delivered high-speed internet access to more than 51 million people globally, including over 4 million in unserved US rural communities and an additional 47 million in 16 unserved and underserved countries outside of the US.

Launched in 2017, Microsoft’s Airband Initiative works through partnerships with local and regional internet and energy access providers, telecom equipment makers, nonprofits, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organisations, to advance access to affordable internet and relevant digital skills around the world. Microsoft believes access to the Internet is a fundamental right for everyone as it delivers access to education, information, and personal needs fulfillment.

The new partnership builds upon the existing relationship between Viasat and Microsoft Azure Space to deliver advances in satellite connectivity and furthers Microsoft’s mission to connect anyone, anywhere in the world.