Thuraya and Airtel Partner to Bring Mobile Connectivity to Remote Africa

Thuraya Telecommunications has recently announced a partnership with Bharti Airtel International in a move the two companies say will “bridge the digital divide” in Africa. The agreement will see Airtel Africa customers receiving mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries around the massive continent. Airtel Africa will now be able to provide customers with voice and broadband connectivity by using Thuraya's satellite network.

This network will be able to reach some rather remote locations and bring people who might never have thought they could get digital coverage. The partnership will take effect in May and will also have Airtel selling Thuraya's products and air-time packages at their retail locations and also through the company's Enterprise account teams.

Both companies seem to understand just how important this kind of a partnership can be. The deal not only serves as a rather large benefit for Airtel and Thuraya but also for those who are living in areas of Africa that can't be served digitally very easily. By using satellite connectivity the companies are not only finally bringing digital coverage to these areas, but they are doing it in the most cost effective approach possible.

Enterprise users across Africa will be able to more easily deal with services and industries such as mining, energy, the media, and government and NGO sectors. Samer Halawi, the CEO of Thuraya, recently talked about the deal struck between the two companies in a release saying, “Thuraya’s partnership with Airtel Africa is a very positive development in bridging the digital divide in Africa. 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. Thuraya is well-positioned to support customer-centric mobile operators like Airtel Africa that are looking to extend their network and services with satellite-based solutions.”