Telecom mogul Mike Adenuga partners with Eutelsat to extend satellite broadband to underserved Nigeria

Nigeria-based Globacom has signed a partnership deal with Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) to deliver its Eutelsat Konnect satellite. The deal aims to provide high-speed broadband via satellite to businesses and communities in underserved areas in Nigeria.

Eutelsat Konnect is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It provides broadband Internet and communications coverage to Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We are honored to have been selected by Globacom, one of the leading telecommunications operators in Africa’s most populous market, to extend the reach of its services,” Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer said.

“This agreement illustrates the unparalled resources of our powerful EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite to satisfy the strong demand for connectivity in underserved regions throughout the African continent,” he added.

The partnership is a multi-year, multi-Gbps wholesale capacity contract. It will enable Globacom to extend its coverage beyond the reach of its terrestrial infrastructure, leveraging the Eutelsat Konnect satellite, Guardian reported.

Globacom is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom provider, founded by Nigerian billionaire telecom tycoon Mike Adenuga. It holds a market share of circa 28 percent after its South African counterpart MTN, which has a 35-percent share of Nigeria’s telecom market.

“We are delighted to add satellite services to our portfolio, leveraging the state-of-the art Eutelsat Konnect satellite to extend connectivity to even far-flung areas in Nigeria, in line with our mission to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network,” Adenuga said.

The infrastructure will complement the Glo-1 submarine cable and extensive fiber-optic layout across the country.