Pan-African telecoms and network services provider Paratus Group announced on Wednesday that it is expanding into Rwanda, where it will provide and install Starlink LEO satellite services for businesses in the country.

Paratus Rwanda said it will target key sectors in the country, including retail, financial services, government, NGOs, agriculture and tourism – particularly in remote and underserved areas that lack traditional infrastructure.

Paratus is authorised to distribute Starlink services across all of its markets in Africa after signing a deal with Starlink in 2023.

Paratus Rwanda said that Starlink’s LEO service is not only suited for rural and hard-to-reach areas, but also offers a resilient, backup option connectivity solution for urban enterprises, given the rash of disruptions caused by subsea cable outages in the past couple of years.

The launch in Rwanda is Paratus Group’s latest expansion move after launching a new division in Tanzania in March this year via a joint venture with Tanzanian company Green Telecom.

“Rwanda’s dynamic and fast-growing market aligns perfectly with our vision, and the addition of Paratus Rwanda strengthens our ability to serve customers with unmatched reach and reliability,” said Paratus Group CEO Schalk Erasmus in a statement.