• Orange Côte d’Ivoire launched a satellite Internet service to expand coverage beyond 4G and fiber networks.

• The offer targets underserved rural areas and high-demand users such as remote workers and businesses.

• The move comes ahead of expected satellite Internet competition from Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Orange Côte d’Ivoire announced earlier this week the launch of a satellite Internet service called “Orange Sat.” The telecom operator said it aimed to deliver reliable and high-performance connectivity nationwide, including rural areas not covered by 4G or fiber networks and locations that remain difficult to access. Through this initiative, the company expanded its connectivity portfolio and strengthened its position in Ivory Coast’s Internet market.

@CI_Orange lance #OrangeSat, son Internet par satellite.
Une solution innovante qui permet un accès Internet fiable partout en Côte d’Ivoire, y compris dans les zones rurales et difficiles d’accès.
Notre ambition : connecter tous les Ivoiriens, où qu’ils soient.#OrangeEstLà pic.twitter.com/84H2bcJl4l

— @CI_Orange (@CI_Orange) January 19, 2026

“Resulting from a strategic partnership with Eutelsat, Orange Sat complements our fiber, high-speed mobile, and now satellite connectivity portfolio in order to address the geographic and economic realities of Ivory Coast,” the operator said in a statement published on LinkedIn.

Satellite technology allows Orange to extend coverage to areas that networks have previously struggled to serve. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks covered 98.9%, 98.3%, and 93.7% of Ivory Coast’s population, respectively. Despite these high coverage rates, authorities have identified several hundred so-called white zones that lack network access. The satellite offer therefore allows Orange to target new subscribers in those areas, while also addressing existing users seeking higher service quality for data-intensive uses such as remote work, gaming, e-learning, and telemedicine.

By the end of September 2025, Ivory Coast recorded 37.9 million Internet subscriptions for an estimated population of about 32 million people, according to World Bank data. However, the actual number of Internet users likely remained lower, as regulators often counted each SIM card used for Internet access as a separate subscription, even when a single user held multiple SIMs. For reference, the ITU estimated the country’s Internet penetration rate at 40.7% in 2023.

Orange currently holds a leading position in Ivory Coast’s Internet market. Data from the Telecommunications and ICT Regulatory Authority of Ivory Coast showed that the operator recorded 522,486 fixed Internet subscriptions in the third quarter of 2025, out of a national total of 682,038. In the mobile segment, Orange reported 14.8 million subscribers, or 40% market share, ahead of MTN at 35% and Moov Africa at 25%.

Competition on the horizon?

The launch of Orange Sat comes as satellite Internet services gain momentum across Africa. Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, already operates in about 25 African countries and plans to launch services in Ivory Coast from 2026, although the exact timeline remains unclear. Orange Sat’s commercial model, which combines a satellite kit with a monthly subscription, mirrors several aspects of Starlink’s approach.

Another consumer satellite Internet player has also targeted the continent, although it has not yet begun commercial operations. Amazon’s Project Kuiper recently secured licenses in Nigeria and announced plans to launch commercial services in South Africa in 2026.

Market observers will now watch whether Orange can leverage its local presence and subscriber base to establish a strong position in this emerging segment against global players with significant technological and financial resources. Service quality and pricing levels will likely play a decisive role in consumer choices.

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

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum