The race for Africa’s satellite internet market is intensifying as Abu Dhabi-based Space42 seeks new funding to accelerate its expansion across the continent, setting up a direct challenge to Elon Musk’s Starlink, which is already active in Nigeria and 17 other African countries.
Backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, Space42 is in early talks with potential partners—including the African Union Development Agency, Microsoft, data center operator Esri, and financial investors—to strengthen its presence in Africa, CEO Hasan Al Hosani said.
While no fundraising target has been disclosed, the company has begun establishing a physical footprint and rolling out connectivity projects in schools and clinics in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Starlink currently holds a strong first-mover advantage, with a network of more than 8,000 low-earth orbit satellites providing global coverage—far outpacing Space42’s eight operational satellites.
The Emirati firm, however, is preparing to close the gap. It plans to launch three additional satellites this year and is collaborating with Microsoft and Esri on a mapping initiative aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure across Africa.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to happen locally within each country, within each nation,” Al Hosani said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.
“So part of our process is actually to identify entities and partners, whether it’s on the private sector or the government sector and in parallel,” he added.
Hosani highlighted Africa as a highly attractive market for satellite providers, driven by its young, rapidly growing population and rising demand for internet access, contrasted with limited terrestrial coverage across much of the continent.
He acknowledged, however, that navigating the patchwork of regulatory frameworks across Africa’s 54 countries could prove challenging.
Nigeria—where Starlink has been expanding since securing regulatory approval in 2022—is expected to emerge as a critical battleground for Space42’s ambitions.
Millions of people in rural areas remain without reliable internet, creating an opening for satellite providers to position themselves as a strong alternative to traditional telecom operators still grappling with last-mile connectivity challenges.
