Thuraya and Bharti Airtel have announced an agreement to provide Airtel Africa customers with mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries in Africa.
The partnership will provide Airtel Africa customers voice and broadband connectivity via Thuraya’s satellite network across the continent’s most remote areas. From May onwards, Airtel Africa will sell Thuraya’s products and airtime packages at their retail outlets and through their Enterprise account team.
Extending mobile networks into remote or rural areas presents both geographical obstacles and business challenges for connecting people in Africa. Thuraya’s satellite network helps bridge the digital divide by providing an immediate and cost-effective way for Airtel Africa to extend its coverage, while generating new revenue streams and providing vital connectivity. Thuraya’s mobile satellite service can address the diverse voice and data communication needs of Airtel Africa enterprise users across the mining, energy, media, government and humanitarian NGO sectors.
Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya said, “We recognize the massive impact that access to reliable communications can have on the lives of people. Thuraya’s robust satellite network will enable Airtel Africa to provide its consumer and enterprise users with reliable, high quality voice and broadband services.”
Christian de Faria, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa said, "Providing reliable connectivity in many remote parts of Africa can be challenging. This partnership enables us to extend our coverage and services for businesses and general consumers who live or work in very remote areas.”
