Only 36% of people in the world’s 46 poorest countries have access to the internet, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
This figure starkly contrasts with the European Union, where over 90% of the population can connect online.
The ITU has highlighted a “staggering international connectivity gap” that has widened over the past decade, especially affecting the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The digital divide was a key issue at a UN summit in Doha, where UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned LDC leaders that they are “being left behind in the digital revolution.”
In some African nations, like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), internet access is particularly limited, with only a quarter of the nearly 100 million population connected.
Major cities in the DRC, such as Kinshasa, have internet access, but vast rural areas and conflict zones remain digital deserts.
However, low-flying satellites offer hope to millions in these remote regions, potentially transforming internet access in Africa.
Tech giants, including Microsoft, have committed to bridging this gap, with plans to leverage satellite technology to bring connectivity to underserved populations.
Microsoft has vowed to connect 100 million Africans to the internet by 2025, using satellites as a key component of this initiative.
The first phase of Microsoft’s plan targets five million Africans, with the second phase aiming to reach an additional 20 million people.
Viasat, a company deploying satellite constellations, will provide internet access for the initial five million, competing with land-based fiber broadband.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink are also key players, launching thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit to expand global connectivity.
Microsoft President Brad Smith expressed optimism about the project, citing falling technology costs and improved regulatory environments in Africa.
Smith noted that African countries have a unique opportunity to “leapfrog other nations” in terms of wireless communications regulations.
Unlike in richer nations, Africa’s available spectrum is largely untapped, allowing for quicker deployment of satellite-based internet services.
Microsoft is collaborating with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, an African telecom specialist, to provide internet access for the second phase of its initiative.
Liquid Intelligent has 100,000 kilometers of land fiber across Africa but is also expanding its satellite network to reach more remote areas.
Nic Rudnick, Liquid Intelligent’s deputy CEO, emphasized that in hard-to-reach regions, “satellite is often the only technology or the most reliable technology for fast broadband that always works.”
This initiative is part of a broader effort to use digital technology as a tool for development, offering a private-sector alternative to traditional foreign aid.
While optimistic, Smith acknowledged that the private sector remains “woefully under-developed and under-invested” in many LDC economies.
The push to expand internet access in Africa through satellite technology could significantly impact the continent’s digital landscape, offering millions a chance to participate in the global digital economy.
