ATU, ITU, UNOOSA and Amazon Launch LEO Satellite Internet Capacity-Building Programme
The initiative comes as LEO satellite constellations transition from niche services to mainstream connectivity solutions, with significant implications for broadband expansion, emergency communications, and network resilience, especially in areas where terrestrial rollout remains limited or commercially unviable.
The Africa’s Telecommunications Union (ATU), in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and Amazon, has launched an online capacity-building programme on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet services for policymakers, regulators, and technical experts from its Member States.
The initiative comes as LEO satellite constellations transition from niche services to mainstream connectivity solutions, with significant implications for broadband expansion, emergency communications, and network resilience, especially in areas where terrestrial rollout remains limited or commercially unviable. This shift requires stronger regulatory frameworks, spectrum coordination, interference management, and responsible management of orbital resources.
The programme aims to strengthen Member States’ ability to manage satellite internet services by improving decision-making processes and building technical capacity in coordination and interference management. It also incorporates principles of space safety and sustainability, recognising that future service quality and regulatory credibility will depend on how responsibly networks coexist and how orbital resources are managed.
Non-geostationary satellite constellations are reshaping global connectivity and opening new opportunities to serve underserved communities. Large-scale constellations introduce complex governance challenges, highlighting the need for coherent spectrum management, clear licensing frameworks, and regional cooperation to ensure harmonised technical standards, seamless service delivery, and national security considerations.
The programme draws on ATU’s report on Developments in Satellite Communications, which identifies a period of unprecedented innovation driven by multi-orbit architectures, direct-to-device connectivity, and the integration of artificial intelligence. Direct-to-device capabilities, supported through the evolving 3GPP non-terrestrial network framework, complement mobile networks and help close persistent connectivity gaps. The report also notes that around 2.6 billion people remain offline, emphasising the importance of new connectivity models that extend beyond traditional infrastructure.
Outcomes from the programme will support Member States in strengthening national regulatory frameworks and promoting regional coherence on satellite internet governance, enhancing Africa’s influence in global technical and regulatory processes.
