Airtel and Eutelsat to Provide Satellite Internet to African Railway

Airtel Africa signed a deal with Eutelsat to deliver satellite internet services to moving trains. Satellite coverage across 669 kilometers of remote terrain will be the first use of the technology for railways in the region.

In a test conducted in sub-Saharan Africa supported by Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-earth orbit network, the operator maintained stable high-speed connectivity as the vehicle traveled through remote and forested areas underserved by traditional network coverage. Download speeds hit 100 Mb/s while uplink reached 20Mb/s, meeting performance targets.

The operator group highlighted that the connection was sustained through almost the entire journey between key urban centers, with minimal interruptions and low latency. It added that satellite-powered internet enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and improved emergency response. The connectivity boost also paves the way for fresh customer-facing services such as onboard Wi-Fi, streaming, e-ticketing, and live travel updates.

Luc Serviant, group enterprise director at Airtel Africa, hailed the trial as a historic breakthrough demonstrating the potential for LEO satellite technology to bridge connectivity gaps in critical infrastructure and boost industries including transport, mining, and energy. The pilot, part of Airtel’s Satellite for Business initiative, kicks off a wider rollout across Nigeria, Congo, Zambia, Madagascar, and Gabon, targeting hard-to-reach areas.