Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator and Bharti Airtel International, has announced a partnership deal to provide customers of Airtel Africa with mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries in Africa.

The partnership will provide Airtel Africa customers voice and broadband connectivity via Thuraya’s satellite network across the continent’s most remote areas.

Commencing from May next month, Airtel Africa will sell Thuraya’s products and airtime packages at their retail outlets and through their enterprise account team.

Extending mobile networks into remote or rural areas presents both geographical obstacles and business challenges for connecting people in Africa.

Thuraya’s satellite network helps bridge the digital divide by providing an immediate and cost-effective way for Airtel Africa to extend its coverage, while generating new revenue streams and providing vital connectivity.

Thuraya’s mobile satellite service can address the diverse voice and data communication needs of Airtel Africa enterprise users across the mining, energy, media, government and humanitarian NGO sectors.

Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya, Samer Halawi, said: “Thuraya’s partnership with Airtel Africa is a very positive development in bridging the digital divide in Africa. We recognize the massive impact that access to reliable communications can have on the lives of ordinary people."

According to him,  Thuraya’s robust satellite network will enable Airtel Africa to provide its consumer and enterprise users with reliable, high quality voice and broadband services.

“Thuraya is well-positioned to support customer-centric mobile operators like Airtel Africa that are looking to extend their network and services with satellite-based solutions,”Halawi said.

Also speaking on the partnership,  the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Christian de Faria, said: "Providing reliable connectivity in many remote parts of Africa can be challenging.

This partnership enables us to further extend our coverage and services for businesses and general consumers who live or work in very remote areas. Thuraya’s satellite services will be combined with the reliable, high-quality voice calls and broadband access that our customers are accustomed to experiencing in our urban centers.”