Angola partners SES Satellites to power Africa’s space future

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Officials from GGPEN and SES Satellites signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding in Luxembourg, a strategic partnership set to advance Angola’s space ambitions and expand digital connectivity across Africa.

Angola has taken another pioneering step toward becoming a continental leader in space technology and digital inclusion.

The Angolan National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SES Satellites, one of the world’s top satellite operators, to accelerate the country’s growing space programme and expand high-speed connectivity across Africa.

Announced in Luxembourg last week, the partnership will strengthen Angola’s ANGOSAT-2 satellite operations and amplify the reach of its flagship Connecta Angola initiative, which has already brought internet access to more than 360,000 people across 14 provinces.

GGPEN said the collaboration will focus on enhancing technical training, boosting space innovation and extending the benefits of ANGOSAT-2 beyond Angola’s borders.

“This agreement represents a new chapter in Africa’s space and digital journeyWith SES’s expertise, we’re ensuring that no school, hospital, or rural community is left offline,” said a GGPEN spokesperson. “

The Connecta Angola programme, launched in 2023, has already connected underserved institutions, from schools to health centres, through free satellite-powered internet. The initiative has also enabled startups and ISPs to deploy satellite kits that now power e-learning, digital banking, and smart agriculture in remote regions.

SES, which operates one of the world’s most advanced multi-orbit satellite networks covering 99% of the global population, said it views the partnership as a model for digital inclusion across Africa.

The move follows similar localised innovation programmes launched under Connecta Angola, including youth-led satellite deployment projects and training hubs that will now be scaled up under this new agreement.

As Africa’s space economy gathers momentum, Angola’s strategy, combining local talent, global partnerships, and regional outreach, positions it as a rising hub for space-driven connectivity and innovation on the continent.