Satellite operator SES said on Wednesday that it has signed a financial package worth almost EUR60 million (US$65.4 million) with European Investment Bank’s global arm EIB Global and the European Commission for a project to provide satellite internet connectivity to remote rural areas in Central Asia.
The project will leverage SES’s O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite network expansion to facilitate delivery of high-speed broadband services to remote areas in in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ensuring reliable and scalable digital infrastructure.
mPOWER’s network expansion is partially financed by the EIB through a €125 million loan provided earlier this year.
The financing package comprises a EUR34.4 million EU grant and a EUR25.45 million EIB Global loan.
The project aims to bring broadband internet services to approximately 1,600 underserved villages across rural areas in Central Asia, where nearly half of the population does not have internet access to the internet. SES said the initiative will help to bridge the digital gap and also support Central Asia’s broader transition to a digital economy.
“Beyond simply connecting people, connectivity infrastructures are pathways to education, healthcare and economic opportunities,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris, who oversees the Bank's operations in Central Asia, in a statement. “This initiative is helping to address the digital divide and promoting global connectivity, which is a priority for EIB Global.”
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela added that the project is aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, which promotes investment in secure and sustainable infrastructure to connect people and improve lives across the world. It also serves as a key driver of the Team Europe initiative for digital connectivity in Central Asia.
“By investing in digital connectivity, we are bridging gaps, creating opportunities, and ensuring that Central Asia has the necessary resources to benefit fully from the digital economy,” Síkela said.
