Avanti expands satellite capabilities in South Africa through Eutelsat OneWeb partnership, offering flexible LEO and GEO solutions for African connectivity needs

Avanti Communications, a UK-based satellite operator with over $800 million invested in African connectivity, has partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb via South African provider Q-KON to add LEO (Low Earth Orbit) capability to its existing geostationary (GEO) satellite network. This allows Avanti to offer both satellite types depending on customer needs: GEO satellites (36,000km up) provide reliable, wide-area coverage ideal for enterprise customers and mobile operators needing guaranteed coverage in remote areas, while LEO offers lower latency for consumer applications. Avanti focuses on three areas: mobile backhaul for operators like MTN in rural areas where terrestrial networks aren't commercially viable, resilient satellite connectivity for enterprises such as Spar, and school connectivity (which has progressed slower due to device and installation funding challenges). The company has closed the speed gap with LEO systems, now delivering over 400Mbps, while satellite industry prices have fallen 60-70% in recent years. For African mobile operators, this enables coverage extension to areas where fiber or towers don't make financial sense; businesses gain backup connectivity when terrestrial networks fail; and Avanti continues growing despite public conversation focusing on Starlink (which cannot yet enter the South African market). This hybrid approach gives customers flexibility regardless of which satellite technology dominates long-term.

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/07/09/techcabal-daily-koko-runs-out-of-gas/