South Africa Launches Thuraya-4 Satellite | Space42
The rollout marks the commercial entry of Space42’s Thuraya-4 mobile satellite system in South Africa, expanding the country’s connectivity infrastructure and reaching areas where traditional networks struggle or don’t exist.
At the launch event, Ramaphosa framed the initiative as part of broader national efforts to bridge the digital divide and support economic inclusion by extending internet access beyond urban centres into remote communities.
South Africa’s communication and digital technologies minister said the satellite launch aligns with the country’s digital transformation roadmap and digital economy master plan by delivering reliable connectivity where terrestrial networks are limited or unavailable.
Space42 executives said Thuraya-4 uses advanced L-band technology that can allocate bandwidth dynamically and integrate with ground networks to provide more resilient coverage even in adverse conditions.
Industry officials attending the event said expanding satellite services could support not just internet connectivity but also emergency response, government operations, and remote enterprise communications.
