Today marks the official launch of Eutelsat’s OneWeb high-speed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services in Namibia, introducing a major upgrade to business broadband and connectivity infrastructure.
Scoped specifically for the African continent by satellite engineering enterprise, Q-KON, as their Twoobii-OneWeb LEO Smart Satellite Service, this cutting-edge service is being rolled out to the local market by licensed channel partners Echo Namibia and Oblixx Communication Networks (OCN).
The launch follows a rigorous evaluation process by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), positioning the service as a fully compliant, authorised LEO solution designed to bridge the digital divide for schools, government facilities, and remote locations in the banking, mining, medical, retail, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Navigating a Booming Global Satellite Landscape
The commercial launch arrives during an unprecedented boom in the “NewSpace” sector. While mega-constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink initiated this technology boom, the market has expanded significantly.
Currently, there are 36 active and planned global LEO communication constellations – including high-profile programmes such as Amazon LEO (previously known as Project Kuiper), China’s SpaceSail, and the European Union’s IRIS² network.
When expanded to include regional setups, Earth observation imaging, and small-satellite IoT networks, the global NewSpace Index tracking system now lists over 450 unique LEO constellation projects in various stages of deployment.
In this crowded and fast-evolving international landscape, African regulators face the immense task of protecting national interests while enabling innovation. CRAN’s diligent and thorough framework has ensured that the OneWeb service enters the country under a sustainable, legally sound architecture.
A Three-Year Journey of Collaboration
The official launch is the culmination of an arduous three-year journey that began in June 2023. Bringing a global constellation into full compliance required extensive adaptation from the global operator to align with Namibia’s unique legal and market prerequisites.
“We are incredibly proud, humble, and excited to officially bring Twoobii-OneWeb services to Namibia,” says Dr Dawie de Wet, Group CEO of Q-KON.
“Technology by itself is meaningless; the goal is to harness it to open new markets, improve quality of life, and uplift society. The journey to get here was complex, often frustrating, and always challenging. We can absolutely attest to the diligence of CRAN’s process in ensuring the Namibian public is best served, and we salute them for their regulatory leadership.”
Dr. de Wet also highlighted the crucial role played by Eutelsat, and their local channel partners, citing the iconic African proverb: ‘If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ “It has been a tedious and uphill journey since 2023, and I am deeply grateful to Eutelsat, Echo Namibia and OCN for standing by this vision.”
Global Infrastructure, Local Delivery
To make the service viable, Eutelsat’s market access and regional teams engineered custom service delivery models that fit the socio-economic realities of the region.
Deploying global LEO technology successfully required navigating specific regulatory conditions that did not always align with standard global blueprints.
To meet CRAN’s high compliance standards, Eutelsat adapted its service delivery structures, ensuring that the global OneWeb network integrates seamlessly with local operational frameworks to deliver a reliable, enterprise-grade solution.
Redefining Enterprise Operations
The Twoobii-OneWeb service delivers enterprise-grade satellite connectivity with speeds of up to 100 Mbps and capacities reaching up to 2TB per site.
Its low-latency performance ensures seamless integration with legacy corporate IT systems and SD-WAN architectures, allowing businesses to easily incorporate LEO satellite links into their existing network routing and failover strategies.
Having previously secured their official operating licences following CRAN’s approvals earlier this year, Echo Namibia and OCN are already deploying the technology. The service provides a vital lifeline to off-grid communities and functions as a failsafe, high-speed backup option for urban enterprises looking to secure their operations against terrestrial network outages.
About Q-KON:
Q-KON is a leading satellite engineering enterprise and established managed service provider with more than 35 years of experience in providing innovative connectivity solutions across the African continent. Through its flagship service, Twoobii, Q-KON delivers advanced hybrid satellite broadband that integrates both GEO and OneWeb LEO technologies to provide scalable, high-speed, and low-latency internet access. By leveraging a fully integrated “as-a-Service” model, Q-KON empowers sectors such as banking, healthcare, and government to bridge the digital divide in even the most remote locations.
For more information, visit www.qkon.com
About Echo Namibia:
Echo Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd t/a Echo Namibia is an Information & Communications Technology (ICT) provider offering connectivity (fibre, wireless, satellite), cloud, managed networks (SD-WAN, VPN), cybersecurity, and IT services for small, medium and large enterprises. Echo Namibia is known for its turnkey solutions, vast skillset, expanding network plans, first to deploy LEO VSAT. Echo Namibia started in 2016 under the name Witel Service Provider, becoming part of the Echo Africa group in 2022, and evolving into a key player in Namibia’s digital infrastructure drive.
For me information, go to: https://echosp.net/NA
About Oblixx Communication Networks (OCN):
Oblixx Communication Network (OCN) is a Namibian broadband provider dedicated to bridging the digital divide by delivering high-speed internet to underserved communities. They offer fixed wireless, fibre, and LEO satellite solutions with speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 400 Mbps. OCN emphasizes reliability, accessibility, and customer satisfaction, positioning itself as a key player in expanding next-generation connectivity across Namibia.
To learn more, go to: https://www.oblixx.com/
