The African Telecommunications Union (ATU), in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and Amazon, has launched an online capacity-building programme on low Earth orbit satellite internet services for policymakers, regulators, and technical experts across its Member States.
The initiative arrives at a critical juncture as low Earth orbit satellite constellations evolve from niche services into mainstream connectivity solutions, carrying significant implications for broadband expansion, emergency communications, and network resilience, especially in regions where traditional infrastructure deployment remains challenging or commercially unviable. This transformation brings heightened governance responsibilities, demanding greater regulatory clarity, effective spectrum coordination, robust interference management, and responsible stewardship of orbital resources.
The training programme opened with an emphasis on confident policy-making and rigorous implementation. ATU Secretary General John Omo warned that as satellite internet services expand rapidly, regulatory inaction poses genuine risks to market stability and consumer protection. “The opportunity is substantial, and that is precisely why the duty of governance becomes heavier, not lighter,” he stated, emphasising that national frameworks must protect consumers, ensure equitable spectrum access, and establish stable conditions for investment.
Strengthening Technical and Regulatory Capacity
The programme aims to enhance Member States’ capability to oversee satellite internet services by bolstering decision-making processes and building deeper technical expertise in coordination and interference management. It also situates these discussions within the context of emerging space safety and sustainability considerations, acknowledging that regulatory legitimacy and service quality will increasingly depend on how effectively networks operate alongside one another and how responsibly orbital assets are managed.
During the programme’s opening, partners underscored that the regulatory dialogue has evolved from questioning the relevance of satellite internet to determining how it should be governed. “The timing and focus of this workshop are especially pertinent. As you all know, non-geostationary constellations are reshaping the global connectivity landscape, offering new possibilities to serve underserved communities,” noted Mario Manievicz, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.
Speakers also highlighted that the magnitude of these constellations introduces fresh obligations. Aarti Holla Maini, Director of UNOOSA, observed that “large constellations change how we share space. The questions raised by them are confronting regulators as they decide how and under which conditions these systems should operate in outer space.”
From a practical standpoint, Gonzalo de Dios, Head of Global Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at Amazon, identified spectrum management, licensing frameworks, and regional cooperation through continental mechanisms as key areas where coordination facilitates efficient service delivery, aligns technical standards, and supports national security objectives.
Grounding Policy in Market Evidence
To anchor discussions in current realities and market trajectories, participants are drawing on ATU’s report on Developments in Satellite Communications, which documents that the satellite communications sector is experiencing exceptional innovation, propelled by multi-orbit architectures, direct-to-device connectivity, and the integration of artificial intelligence.
The report highlights that direct-to-device capability, advancing through the evolving 3GPP non-terrestrial network framework, is broadening the scope for satellite connectivity that supplements mobile coverage and addresses persistent gaps in underserved regions. It also positions this development against the sobering reality that approximately 2.6 billion people worldwide remain without internet access, underscoring the developmental significance of new connectivity approaches that extend beyond conventional infrastructure boundaries.
Supporting Regional Coherence
ATU intends to leverage the programme’s outcomes to assist Member States in strengthening their national regulatory frameworks and fostering regional alignment on satellite internet governance, particularly in domains where unified positions enhance Africa’s voice in global technical and regulatory forums.
