Page 46 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

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Botswana Launches Its First Satellite

Botswana is the latest African country to
successfully send a satellite into space
with the recent launch of BOTSAT-1. The
launch took place late last week at the
facilities of launch services specialist
SpaceX in California in the US. It was
attended by President Duma Boko, who
explained that BOTSAT-1 will provide real-
time data to support national initiatives
in environmental monitoring, agriculture,
disaster response and urban planning.
“Its capabilities position Botswana as a
growing player in space technology within
Africa,” he added. News resource ITWeb
Africa says the satellite was developed by
engineers from the Botswana International
University of Science and Technology.
It was launched in California because be one of the industries to benefit from the continuously six times daily, transmitting
neither Botswana nor Africa could offer a new satellite's data-gathering capabilities. and collecting data, such as high-resolution
space pad capable of launching a satellite The Minister of Communications and images from the earth’s surface, for various
of BOTSAT-1’s size. Botswana has now Innovation, David Tshere, told Botswana purposes. A ground station has reportedly
joined a group of African governments media that BOTSAT-1 was launched been set up to receive and store information
and telecom companies that plan to use aboard a SpaceX rocket, capable of from the satellite. The government has
satellite technology to help the region accommodating a hyper-spectral camera apparently announced plans for a second
achieve its economic goals. Botswana is payload at an altitude of approximately 600 satellite, though its precise purpose and
known in particular for mining, which may kilometres. The satellite will orbit the earth launch dates are not yet known.

Airtel to Offer SpaceX's Starlink Service Pending Govt Approvals

Indian telco Bharti Airtel announced it has it to offer “comprehensive and seamless 2021 via local subsidiary Starlink Satellite
signed an agreement with SpaceX to offer connectivity packages” to enterprises, Communications, but was forced to stop
its Starlink service in India once the LEO businesses, and communities and expand accepting pre-bookings in November that
satellite operator gets regulatory clearance its ability to target areas, with limited or no year because it didn't hold a licence. The
to operate in the country. In the meantime, coverage. “Starlink will complement and company was ordered to refund deposits
Airtel and SpaceX will explore ways to offer enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure to customers in 2022. Meanwhile, rival
Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail stores reliable and affordable broadband for our LEO satellite operator Eutelsat OneWeb
and sell Starlink services Airtel’s business Indian customers – wherever they live and (in which Airtel’s parent company is an
customers. The two companies also plan work,” he said in a statement. Exactly when investor) received clearance from IN-SPACe
to use Starlink to provide connectivity for Starlink services will be available in India to offer commercial services to business
communities, schools, and health centres, remains an open question. ETTelecom customers in November 2023, as well as a
among others, in the most rural parts of reported last month that India’s space GMPCS licence from the DoT. Last October,
India. Airtel and SpaceX will also explore regulatory agency IN-SPACe is likely to the DoT allocated satellite spectrum on
possibilities for interconnecting their approve Starlink for operations in India a provisional basis to Eutelsat OneWeb
networks, such as mobile backhaul for "imminently". However, once that hurdle and Orbit Connect India – Reliance Jio’s
Airtel or Starlink leveraging Airtel’s ground is cleared, Starlink still needs to acquire satellite venture with SES – to allow them
network infrastructure. Airtel’s MD and a GMPCS licence and spectrum from to test satellite broadband services.
vice chairman Gopal Vittal said that adding the Department of Telecommunications
Starlink to its service portfolio will enable (DoT). Starlink has operated in India since

46 MARCH-APRIL 2025