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Guinea Explores Satellite Internet Partnership to Narrow Digital Divide

Guinea Explores Satellite Internet Partnership to Narrow Digital Divide
Thursday, 30 April 2026 13:19
  • Guinea is discussing satellite connectivity cooperation with British aerospace company Open Cosmos.

  • About 70% of Guinea’s population did not use the Internet in 2024, according to the ITU.

  • Mobile internet subscriptions reached 8.28 million by mid-2025, although the ITU estimated actual internet penetration at 33.3% in 2024.

Guinea is exploring cooperation with British satellite company Open Cosmos as part of its strategy to expand internet access and reduce the country’s digital divide. The initiative reflects a broader African trend toward using space technologies to improve connectivity across underserved regions.

Officials discussed the issue on Wednesday, April 29, during a meeting between Souleymane Thianguel Bah and Abou Bakr Mourched, Open Cosmos’ business development manager.

Aminata Deen Touré, director general of innovation at the ministry, also attended the meeting. The discussions focused on Open Cosmos’ satellite manufacturing and deployment solutions as well as the opportunities those technologies could create for connectivity and data collection.

Bah highlighted the strategic importance of satellite technologies for improving digital coverage, particularly in remote areas of the country. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), about 70% of Guinea’s population did not use the internet in 2024.

The discussions with Open Cosmos follow earlier efforts by Guinea to develop satellite partnerships. In January 2025, Guinea approached Chinese company AirSat Technology to explore a partnership aimed at equipping the country with a satellite capable of supporting large-scale data transmission.

However, authorities have not provided updates on the project’s progress since then. The initiative also aligns with a wider continental movement. According to GSMA, aerial connectivity solutions, including satellites, should play a key role in achieving universal connectivity in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The region contains some of the most challenging terrain for terrestrial networks, including rainforests, deserts and mountain ranges. Even in rural and sparsely populated areas, the cost and complexity of deploying conventional mobile or fixed-line networks support the case for alternative connectivity solutions,” the organization said in its report “The Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2024.”

According to data from ARTP Guinée, 94.11% of Guinean localities had adequate mobile phone coverage by mid-2025. However, about 5.89% of the population remained insufficiently covered, including 1.4% with no coverage at all.

The ITU said 2G coverage reached 87.9% of the population in 2022. Meanwhile, 3G covered 81.3% of the population in 2024, compared with 77% for 4G coverage. In terms of usage, the regulator recorded 12.8 million mobile subscriptions by mid-2025, representing a penetration rate of 89.1%.

Mobile internet subscriptions reached 8.28 million, equivalent to 57.86% of the population. However, those figures include multiple SIM cards held by individual users. By comparison, the ITU estimated actual internet penetration at 33.3% in 2024.

According to the GSMA, satellite connectivity provides a valuable extension to terrestrial networks, but the technology alone cannot solve the challenge of digital inclusion.

In Africa, 58% of unconnected populations already live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks. As a result, the main challenge extends beyond physical connectivity and includes the ability of populations to effectively use digital services.

Affordability remains a major obstacle. The cost of devices, including smartphones and satellite terminals, remains too high for many households. In addition, persistent economic and social constraints, such as limited digital literacy and the lack of locally adapted content, continue to suppress demand for digital services.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

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