Uganda asked to harness satellite internet to bridge digital divide

Uganda has been urged to harness emerging satellite technologies to bridge the digital divide and extend reliable internet connectivity to businesses and institutions in underserved areas.

Although the country has made significant progress in expanding digital connectivity, gaps remain, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the country had 17 million mobile internet subscriptions by the third quarter of 2025. However, wider network coverage has not necessarily translated into meaningful connectivity, with rural and low-income communities continuing to face barriers to reliable internet access.

The gap is also evident in the education sector. UNICEF recently reported that more than a third of surveyed schools have no internet access, while only about 12% have connectivity across their entire campus.

Edwin Kyambadde, the Paratus Uganda country manager, said satellite technology could complement existing infrastructure by connecting locations that are difficult or uneconomical to reach through terrestrial networks.

He said the technology would be particularly useful for companies with branches spread across the country, allowing them to connect remote outlets while maintaining fibre and other connections in urban areas.

“For example, if you have a bank and you have 20 branches, 15 of them are in fibre-rich areas, but you have two on an island somewhere on the lake, this is a technology we can use to complement all the connectivity,” he said.

Kyambadde was speaking during the launch of Starlink services in Uganda at Roke Telkom offices in Bugolobi, Kampala.

With the launch of operations in Uganda on Wednesday, the country is seeking to expand digital services beyond areas already served by fibre and other terrestrial networks, placing the country within a growing global market for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity.

Satellite internet transmits data between a user terminal, usually a small dish, satellites orbiting the Earth, and ground stations connected to the global internet.

Because LEO satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, they can provide lower communication delays.

Currently, there are six major companies in the global LEO connectivity market, including Starlink, Amazon Leo, Eutelsat OneWeb, Globalstar, Telesat Lightspeed, and AST SpaceMobile.

During the event, Roke Telkom and Paratus Uganda announced a partnership to extend Starlink services to businesses and institutions across the country.

Kyambadde said agriculture, construction, tourism, mining, education, and health were among the sectors that could benefit from expanded satellite connectivity.

Remote tourism facilities could provide internet services to visitors, while health facilities could use the technology to support telemedicine. Schools could access online learning resources, while mining and oil operations could improve communication and data transfer.

Roke Telkom chief executive officer Peter Muhumuza said closing the connectivity gap requires more than simply providing an internet connection.

“Connectivity alone is not enough. We are bringing Starlink to merge it with other solutions to deliver for our customers,” Muhumuza said.

He said businesses could combine satellite connectivity with cybersecurity and cloud services to support their operations.

The partnership could also create opportunities for providing internet connectivity on moving vehicles, including buses and taxis.

Kyambadde said residential customers could continue accessing Starlink directly, while Paratus and Roke Telkom would focus on tailored business solutions backed by local billing and technical support.

“Our emphasis is on the business segment,” he said.

He encouraged enterprises and non-governmental organisations facing connectivity challenges to engage the companies on customised solutions using Starlink as a last-mile connectivity provider.

Paratus Group operates in 16 African countries, while Roke Telkom, which marks 20 years of operation this year, is one of Uganda’s longest-serving independent internet service providers.

The companies said the partnership would complement national efforts to extend reliable connectivity to underserved communities and support Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.