Several developing countries have proposed new forms of low-cost satellite internet to connect remote areas. Several up-and-coming organizations include “Starlink” and “Amazon Project Kuiper.”

Starlink and Project Kuiper: Bridging the Digital Divide

SpaceX operates Starlink and “utilizes a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide service worldwide.” It is designed to deliver “faster speeds and lower latency.” Its key purpose is to provide satellite internet to remote areas where accessibility is a constant barrier to connectivity.

While the operation seems promising, it is at a higher price than other rural internet providers due to the required purchase or lease of proprietary equipment. Another drawback is that the service tends to be affected by extreme weather conditions, common in remote areas with unpredictable climates.

Amazon Project Kuiper is an upcoming satellite internet service that provides high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas. Amazon plans to provide “widespread coverage which includes hard-to-reach rural communities.” However, prices are not yet available to the public, making it difficult to assess the potential success of this new project. Despite this uncertainty, it is expected to be competitive with other satellite internet providers.

Benefits of Satellites

Unlike most other satellite services, there is no required reliance on telephone lines. Amazon plans to “deploy thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit linked to a global network of antennas, fiber and internet connection points.” These satellites orbit closer to Earth than traditional ones, reducing signal delay and improving speed. The satellites will communicate with a network of ground stations, including antennas, fiber-optic cables and internet hubs, that connect to the broader internet.

Satellites beam data to and from user terminals (like dishes or receivers) and route it through ground infrastructure to reach the internet. Unlike older satellite services, this enables Amazon to provide broadband access in rural, underserved regions without phone lines.

Amazon Project Kuiper plans to “bridge a digital divide” and offer direct support, such as customer service, to ensure technology integration. Although the performance metrics are not yet known until actual deployment, Amazon’s inclusion of a direct support team appears promising.

GSMA: Driving Mobile Innovation

GMSA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to provide innovative solutions for businesses and to encourage societal change. Its vision is to “unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive.” It shapes mobile-related policies, supports technology that keeps mobile networks running and creates significant events to target global problems. Events such as MWC and M360 mobilize mobile industry leaders to share ideas and collaborate.

Millions of people depend on connectivity for their livelihoods and basic needs. “In 2022, 36 countries with the largest mobile coverage gap hosted 46% of internally displaced people and 18% of refugees.” Low-cost satellite services could be the answer to target the weaker areas of infrastructure in developing countries, particularly in health care, education and humanitarian protection.

Connectivity for Refugees Initiative

However, there are barriers to usage due to “lack of affordability of devices and data, lack of literacy and language or social barriers.” Due to this accessibility problem, a coalition of organizations and governments, including the UNHCR, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), GSMA and the Government of Luxembourg, created the Connectivity for Refugees initiative in 2023.

The initiative aims to connect 20 million displaced people and their hosts by 2030, helping them stay connected, access global services and build a livelihood. It will involve the private sector, governments, international organizations and forcibly displaced communities to ensure connectivity in underserved areas. Consequently, this will “open pathways for greater access to information, education and livelihoods and enhanced humanitarian protection.” 

Connecting Rwanda

The Rwandan government has created the Kigali Innovation City initiative, focusing on “expanding connectivity” through government-led efforts to “develop robust digital infrastructure and initiatives.”

According to GSMA research, “MTN Rwanda has the widest network coverage in the country, with coverage available in remote areas and refugee camps.” Mobile phones are widely used in Rwanda, with “31% of the population reported to be using a mobile money account.”

There are four active mobile money services in operation: MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Tigo, Dau Pesa and MCash. Through a partnership with KCB Bank, MTN Mobile Money users can access loans and savings products. This partnership also provides additional benefits, including access to health care and educational platforms.

In addition, NGOs such as UNHCR and the U.N. Refugee Agency are supporting connectivity projects in refugee camps like Mahama and Kiziba. These projects establish “community centers with internet access, mobile charging stations, digital literacy programmes and solar power solutions,” helping expand digital access in underserved communities.

Low-cost satellite connectivity is not just access; it’s a lifeline for resilience and opportunity.

– Gabriela E Silva

Gabriela is based in Surrey, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay