TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- First in Africa: Airtel successfully tested satellite internet on a moving train across 669km of remote terrain
- Blazing speeds: Hit 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload using LEO satellites
- Game changer: Works where cell towers and fibre optic cables can’t reach
- Big plans: Rolling out across Nigeria, DRC, Zambia, Madagascar, and Gabon
- Why it matters: 168 million Africans still have zero internet access
Imagine riding a train through dense African forests for 669 kilometres and streaming Netflix in HD the entire way. Sounds impossible, right?
Not anymore.
Airtel Africa just pulled off something no other telecom company in Sub-Saharan Africa has managed: delivering high-speed internet to a moving train powered entirely by satellites. And the results? Mind-blowing.
The Problem: Africa’s Railway Dead Zones
Here’s the thing about African railways: they’re lifelines for commerce, moving millions of tonnes of freight and thousands of passengers every single day.
But here’s the catch — most of these trains run through complete connectivity dead zones. No cell towers. No fibre optic cables. Just endless stretches of forest and remote terrain where your phone becomes a costly paperweight.
Until now.
Enter LEO Satellites: The Tech That Changes Everything
Airtel partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb to utilize low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites — the same cutting-edge technology that powers services like Starlink. Unlike traditional satellites that orbit 35,000km away, LEO satellites sit just 1,200km above Earth.
The result? Lower latency, faster speeds, and coverage that follows you anywhere. Even on a train barreling through the African wilderness.
The Numbers: How Fast Are We Talking?
Let’s talk specs because they’re genuinely impressive:
- Download speeds: Up to 100 Mbps
- Upload speeds: Up to 20 Mbps
- Coverage: 669 kilometres of uninterrupted connectivity
- Latency: Consistently low despite moving at train speeds
- Terrain: Dense forests, hills, and remote areas where traditional networks fail
To put that in perspective, 100 Mbps is faster than what many people get at home with fibre optic internet. On a moving train. Through a forest. In Africa.
Real-World Performance That Actually Works
The connection stayed stable throughout almost the entire journey. No dropped signals when entering forests. No buffering when the train hit hills. Just consistent, reliable internet that actually works when you need it.
That’s enough bandwidth to support multiple passengers streaming videos, making video calls, and browsing simultaneously — while the train’s systems handle real-time monitoring and communications.
Why This Matters: Beyond Just WiFi on Trains
Sure, passengers getting WiFi is cool. However, the real impact extends far deeper.
For Railway Operations
Predictive Maintenance: Trains can now send real-time diagnostics. Sensors detect problems before they become breakdowns—no more surprise failures in the middle of nowhere.
Emergency Response: Instant communication anywhere on the route. Accidents? Medical emergencies? Help is just a click away, even in remote areas.
Freight Tracking: Know exactly where your cargo is, in real-time. No more “your shipment is somewhere between Lagos and Kinshasa.”
For Passengers
Think about it:
- Stream your favourite shows during long journeys
- Video calls that actually work
- Digital tickets (no more paper ticket hassles)
- Real-time journey updates
- Productive work time instead of dead time
For business travellers, this is huge. That 8-hour train journey? Now it’s 8 hours of productivity instead of staring out the window.
Africa’s Connectivity Crisis: The Numbers Are Sobering
Here’s the reality check:
- 168 million Africans have zero internet access
- 86% of Africa has mobile broadband (14% have nothing)
- In rural areas? 25% are completely offline
- 16% still rely on 3G networks (remember how slow those were?)
Traditional infrastructure, such as fibre optic cables and cell towers? Expensive and often impossible in remote areas. Satellite internet is proving to be the solution that actually works.
The Rollout: Where This Goes Next
Airtel isn’t stopping at one test. They’re going big.
Target Markets:
- Nigeria (Africa’s largest economy)
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Zambia
- Madagascar
- Gabon
These aren’t random picks. These are countries with massive remote areas, significant mining operations, and millions of people who’ve never had reliable internet access.
The same satellite tech powering trains will also connect:
- Remote mining sites
- Oil fields
- Agricultural projects
- Schools and hospitals in isolated areas
- Communities that traditional networks can’t reach
The Bigger Picture: Africa’s Satellite Internet Race
Airtel isn’t alone in this space. There’s a full-blown race happening:
- Starlink is expanding across Africa
- Avanti Communications is investing heavily
- Eutelsat OneWeb (Airtel’s partner) is building out LEO networks
- Local players are partnering with global satellite providers
This competition? It’s driving innovation and reducing costs. That’s great news for African consumers.
The African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are promoting improved connectivity across the continent. Projects like this directly support those goals by facilitating cross-border trade and communication.
The Tech Deep Dive: How LEO Satellites Actually Work
For the tech geeks (we see you):
LEO satellites orbit at approximately 1,200km altitude, compared to 35,000km for traditional satellites. That shorter distance means:
- Way lower latency (the delay you feel during video calls)
- Faster data transmission
- Better coverage with smaller, cheaper ground equipment
- More resilient connections in challenging terrain
The system continuously switches between satellites as the train moves, compensating for motion and maintaining signal strength despite obstacles like dense foliage and hills.
Hitting 100 Mbps on a moving vehicle through the African wilderness isn’t just impressive — it’s a legitimate technical achievement.
What Happens Next?
In the short term, expect to see satellite WiFi rolling out on major African rail routes throughout 2025-2026.
Medium term: Expansion to mines, oil fields, and remote communities across the five target countries.
Long term: This could be the template for connecting Africa’s most isolated regions — the places that were previously deemed “too expensive” or “too difficult” to access with traditional infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
Airtel Africa just proved something important: Africa’s connectivity challenges aren’t insurmountable. With the right technology and partnerships, even the toughest infrastructure gaps can be bridged.
For the 168 million Africans still offline, this represents a glimmer of hope. For businesses operating in remote areas, this represents an opportunity. For Africa’s digital transformation, this represents momentum.
One satellite-connected train at a time, the continent is building its connected future.
And honestly? That future looks pretty damn fast.
What do you think about satellite internet on trains? Would you use it? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss the future of African connectivity.
and then