Telecom Namibia has signed a pilot commercial agreement with Angola’s National Space Programme Management Office (GGPEN) to test the deployment of Angosat-2 satellite services, marking a significant step in the company’s strategy to diversify connectivity infrastructure and extend broadband coverage to underserved areas.
The agreement, signed in Luanda, moves the partnership beyond a proof-of-concept phase into a live operational trial, allowing Telecom Namibia to assess the technical performance, reliability and commercial viability of the Angosat-2 platform on its network.
The initiative comes as telecom operators across Africa increasingly turn to satellite technology to complement fibre and wireless networks, particularly in remote locations where conventional infrastructure remains costly or difficult to deploy.
Telecom Namibia Chairperson Fimanekeni Petrus said the pilot will help determine how satellite services can support the next phase of digital connectivity in Namibia and the wider Southern African region.
“Through this Pilot Commercial Agreement, we are not only testing technology, we are actively shaping the future of connectivity in our region,” Petrus said.
The Angosat-2 platform is expected to provide broadband and communications services to sectors that often face connectivity challenges, including mining operations, tourism establishments, schools, farms and rural communities.
The satellite service will be integrated with existing terrestrial fibre and submarine cable infrastructure, creating an additional connectivity layer designed to improve network resilience and service continuity.
Industry analysts increasingly view satellite technology as a critical component of modern telecommunications networks, providing redundancy during terrestrial network outages while expanding coverage beyond the reach of traditional infrastructure.
The pilot will allow Telecom Namibia to evaluate network performance, service scalability and customer demand before proceeding with a full commercial launch.
The project also strengthens regional technology collaboration between Namibia and Angola and highlights the growing role of African-owned space infrastructure in supporting digital transformation across the continent.
If successful, the deployment of Angosat-2 services could accelerate connectivity expansion in hard-to-reach areas while supporting Namibia’s broader digital inclusion and infrastructure development objectives.
