Satellite operator Intelsat has announced a new cellular backhaul service in Lagos, aimed at strengthening connectivity in West Africa through satellite and terrestrial networks. According to the company, this project will significantly expand connectivity infrastructure in both Nigeria and across Africa.
Hans Geldenhuys, Intelsat’s Director for Africa, stated that their CellBackhaul network offers a solution that combines the strengths of both geostationary (GEO) and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. He noted:
“Expanding our CellBackhaul services is a key objective for Intelsat. Since its launch, we have extended coverage to six regions across six continents, and we added two more regions in 2024 with Nigeria being one. We are in strategic review to look at additional markets for future expansion.”
While this technology is a first for West Africa, it has already been in use in Central and Southern Africa. The application will increase mobile capacity and network reliability, even during disaster scenarios. It is also a viable alternative for regions where fiber installation is too costly.
Geldenhuys added that they are in active discussions with all major operators for this project:
“Intelsat’s managed cellular backhaul operates on shared infrastructure, allowing multiple MNOs to connect their basestations or sites to their network core. This shared model significantly improves capex and opex management, which is especially critical given the current economic pressures faced by MNOs.”
“With the platform based in Nigeria, it offers a comprehensive West African footprint through satellite coverage. Intelsat will establish connectivity between Nigeria and the neighboring operators’ points of presence to enable seamless service. Additionally, our field teams are ready to support installations both in Nigeria and in surrounding countries to ensure deployment.”
The backhaul technology supports 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
Sub-Saharan Africa still lags behind the world in terms of mobile coverage and usage. Almost half of the 400 million people lacking mobile broadband coverage globally are located in this region.
According to Intelsat officials, closing this gap is challenging due to the high cost and slow pace of infrastructure deployment in rural areas. Rhys Morgan commented on this issue:
“Satellite technology is critical to closing the digital divide. To connect unconnected populations in rural and remote locations, satellite backhaul is often the most viable option for a rapid, reliable, cost-effective connectivity solution.”
