East Africa endorse joint satellite scheme
By Our reporter
NAIROBI – Four East African nations have endorsed a plan to launch a regional communication and broadcasting satellite, KBC reported. The Northern Corridor Regional Communication and Broadcasting Satellite Initiative Resolutions were signed at the Connected Africa Summit 2026 in Nairobi on 30 April by the information, communication and technology ministers of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. They have agreed to a feasibility study to develop a jointly owned satellite to cut reliance on foreign satellite internet communication providers such as Starlink.
The scheme is known as the Northern Corridor Regional Communication and Broadcasting Satellite Initiative (NCRCBSI) and was the focus of the meeting by the ministers of the four countries. The states agreed to invest in infrastructure that supports local priorities rather than relying on international connectivity routes. The collaboration will strengthen regional cooperation and advance digital infrastructure to enhance service delivery and economic growth, said William Kabogo Gitau, cabinet secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications & The Digital Economy.
Speaking at the Connected Africa Summit, Gitau said the project is essential for resilience during emergencies such as cyberattacks. The NCRCBSI was initiated in 2023 as a multi-lateral effort to bridge connectivity gaps in underserved and remote areas. The East African Community comprises eight nations including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Tanzania, but this specific satellite project is currently driven by the four Northern Corridor members. They aim to achieve more affordable connectivity for broadcasting and digital services.
