Eutelsat and Airtel Gabon connect passenger trains
  • Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network to provide passenger Wi-Fi services on the Transgabon Railway
  • Reinforcing the Eutelsat - Airtel partnership, with this deployment marking the start of an expanded collaboration on rail connectivity across Africa

    Paris, 30 December 2025 - Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) today announced that its OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services are being deployed to connect passenger trains in Gabon, delivered in partnership with Airtel Gabon.

    The deployment builds on successful testing and is being implemented as part of a national initiative led by the Gabonese Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation and the Ministry of Transport, Merchant Marine and Logistics, in collaboration with the Transgabon Railway Operating Company (SETRAG). By extending LEO connectivity to rail transport, the project will support Gabon’s efforts to integrate digital services into public transportation, modernise the railway experience and enhance passenger comfort, while enabling reliable broadband services along long-distance routes beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

    This deployment extends the reach of Eutelsat’s established OneWeb LEO services in Africa and reflects the Group’s continued focus on working with governments and telecom operators to support digital infrastructure development, including in transport and other public services. It also reinforces Eutelsat’s collaboration with Airtel, laying the groundwork for a broader deployment of rail connectivity solutions across the continent.

    Philippe Baudrier, Vice President, Africa, Eutelsat said “This deployment with Airtel Gabon reflects Eutelsat’s commitment to extending the benefits of OneWeb LEO connectivity in support of national digital initiatives. It also reinforces our partnership with Airtel and establishes a strong foundation for additional rail connectivity projects across Africa. By enabling reliable broadband services on passenger trains, we are contributing to the modernisation of public transport infrastructure and an improved travel experience for rail passengers in Gabon.”

    Thomas Herbert Gutjahr, Airtel Gabon Managing Director added: “Working with Eutelsat, the government, and national partners such as SETRAG, we are supporting the delivery of onboard connectivity services that enhance passenger comfort and support the integration of digital services into Gabon’s rail network. This project reflects our broader commitment to supporting the country’s highest authorities in their vision for innovation and digital transformation across the country.”

    IMAGE_Press_Gabon-Rail-Connectivity-with-OneWeb-LEO_301225.webp 3423313
    Industry
    Telecom Satellite Network 0

    Eutelsat announces its OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services are being deployed to connect passenger trains in Gabon, delivered in partnership with Airtel Gabon.

    Mynewsdesk Source ID
    3423313
    Case study
    Scuba Divers Installing Calbe underwater

    LEO Satellite Backup for Critical Subsea Infrastructure in Alaska

    After undersea fibre cuts disrupted communications across parts of Alaska, including a January 2025 cable break caused by sea ice, Eutelsat worked with local partners to deploy LEO satellite terminals. The solution restored critical connectivity for emergency services, local government and essential public communications while cable repairs remained impossible.

    SWITCHING TO LEO WHEN CABLES NEED REPAIRING

    The Challenge - When Subsea Cables Fail  

    The likelihood of disruption to a subsea telecommunications cable is difficult to foretell and costly to restore. Cables age, underwater and out of sight. Ocean floors move. Boretides pull. Incidents occur with passing ships. We use them, however, to carry 99% of all intercontinental data and website traffic around the world. Their strategic importance is equal to that of energy pipelines and major highways. A cable outage can, as a result, be critical for public and emergency service providers, offshore and land-based enterprise operations, local businesses and remote communities. The cost for communications service providers to locate and repair a severed cable can run into many millions of US$.

    Critical Needs - Network Resilience Versus Repair 

    Local network service providers need to ensure resilience is built into their subsea cable-powered networks as part of a critical service delivery strategy. Where outages are most likely to occur, these measures may need to be more permanent and can include:

    • Satellite terminals onsite, secured and ready for service activation
    • Trusted local partners to identify immediate needs in the event of a break
    • Strategic forward planning and budget allocation for resiliency 
    • Satellite solutions that seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure for service continuity during a connectivity crisis

    This is a wake-up call to us all, that we need to be sure that we have our emergency plans dusted off and that we exercise them and see what redundancy we can build into our system to ensure there is a rapid failover available to us should something like this occur again in the future.

    John handeland

    Mayor of nome, alaska

     

    The Solution - Trusted Partners Adopt LEO SATCOM 

    Eutelsat, together with our Distribution Partners in Alaska, delivered a satellite solution for activation within 48 hours of a reported subsea cable outage event. Our trusted DPs were able to restore network access at short notice, using satellite as the back-up circuit with OW70 terminals installed at multiple landing station sites. Our timely response ensured DPs could maintain low-latency, high-speed connectivity for their customers . Our approach is part of a broader Eutelsat multi-orbit package for network resilience, where we combine the strengths of both GEO and LEO satellite systems. 

    Impact

    Where insurance companies in the past may have paid-out following a subsea cable disruption they often insist now on steps taken to enhance resilience and mitigate risk, including what satellite services have been implemented. Reduced dependency on single-point terrestrial infrastructure can save millions of US dollars. Other benefits include: 

    • Continued customer loyalty for delivering reliable service      
    • Proven pathways that avoid dependence on a single-point terrestrial infrastructure
    • Protection for critical public services and remote communities
    • Scalable backup business models that can apply to other critical infrastructure scenarios

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • A LEO satellite backup uses low Earth orbit constellations—orbiting between 300 and 2,000 kilometres above Earth—to provide low-latency, high-bandwidth communications to where terrestrial networks or submarine cables fail. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites at 36,000 kilometres, LEO satellites deliver faster response times and greater capacity, making them essential for maintaining essential public, government and enterprise services in remote communities. When infrastructure fails, LEO terminals can be activated rapidly to restore communications.

    • LEO connectivity enables rapid deployment of satellite terminals to restore communications for emergency services and public agencies within hours. The satellites provide broad coverage even in Arctic or hard-to-reach regions where terrestrial infrastructure is sparse or damaged. During the Alaska cable breaks, Eutelsat deployed terminals in under 48 hours to restore critical services. The low-latency performance supports real-time coordination between first responders, enabling voice, video and data flows simultaneously—capabilities that prove vital when traditional communication channels are compromised.

    • Eutelsat's multi-orbit approach combines GEO and LEO satellites to deliver exceptional redundancy and resilience. GEO satellites provide stable, high-capacity coverage from fixed orbital positions, whilst LEO constellations offer low-latency, ubiquitous connectivity. This satellite communication architecture ensures capacity is always available, even when one network experiences disruption. The dual-orbit design eliminates common points of failure. For governments responsible for disaster recovery and humanitarian assistance, this layered approach delivers mission-critical reliability at a fraction of prolonged outage costs.

    • Eutelsat OneWeb's constellation features encryption, access controls and tamper-resistant architecture designed specifically for government and critical infrastructure use cases. The network maintains the security standards demanded by defence, intelligence and public safety agencies whilst remaining easily interoperable with existing systems. For civil government decision-makers managing healthcare, education or emergency services, this means connectivity solutions that meet strict regulatory requirements without compromising rapid deployability.

    • Governments responsible for healthcare, education and emergency services need resilient, compliant connectivity that can withstand infrastructure failures and budget constraints. LEO satellite backup provides a cost-effective, rapidly deployable alternative to relying solely on terrestrial networks, which remain vulnerable to cable breaks and natural disasters. The solution offers transparent procurement aligned with public sector processes, proven cybersecurity standards and flexibility to scale as needs evolve. When measured against the multi-million-dollar costs of prolonged outages, investing in LEO backup infrastructure represents responsible stewardship of public funds whilst ensuring critical services remain operational.

    Industry
    Telecom
    Eutelsat and Neptune provide emergency connectivity in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa
    • Deployment of satellite communications kits and free broadband service to support first responders
    • Ensuring continuity of emergency response coordination in hardest-hit areas

    Paris, 14 November 2025 – Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 – Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL), in partnership with regional satellite solutions provider Neptune Communications, today announced the donation and deployment of emergency satellite communications services to support the Government of Jamaica following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which resulted in significant disruption to national communications infrastructure.

    Under this initiative, Eutelsat is providing GEO satellite capacity and VSAT remote kits to enable the rapid restoration of connectivity across priority response locations. Neptune Communications will manage on-the-ground installation, logistics, field services and local technical support, ensuring timely and effective service activation. Connectivity will be provided free of charge for an initial period of three months, enabling first responders and government agencies to maintain operational coordination in the hardest-hit regions.

    In addition, Eutelsat is supporting long-standing partners at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) by providing satellite capacity at no cost to CBU member broadcasters. This support will assist in restoring essential broadcast services where terrestrial systems were affected, ensuring the continuous delivery of public information and emergency communications.

    Alejandro Guerra Najar, RVP for Latin America at Eutelsat, said ““The impact of Hurricane Melissa has placed considerable strain on local infrastructure, making reliable communication essential to coordinating recovery efforts. Satellite provides a resilient and immediate solution when ground networks are disrupted. Alongside our partners in Jamaica, we are focused on helping maintain the critical links that support emergency services and public information.”

    Julian Jordan, CEO of Neptune Communications added, “As Jamaicans at home and abroad come together to rebuild and recover in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the importance of dependable and resilient communication systems has never been clearer. At Neptune Communications, we are deeply honored to stand alongside our partners at Eutelsat in supporting Jamaica’s first responders, emergency services, and communities with the connectivity they need—when it matters most. We remain steadfast, present, and at work to keep Jamaica #AlwaysOn during this challenging time. Together, we are confident that Jamaica will soon be reconnected—and stronger than ever.”

    IMAGE_Press_Hurricane-Melissa_GettyImages-2243926494-141125.webp 3416302
    Industry
    Enterprise Telecom 0

    Eutelsat Group in partnership with regional satellite solutions provider Neptune Communications, today announced the donation and deployment of emergency satellite communications services to support the Government of Jamaica following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which resulted in significant disruption to national communications infrastructure.

    Mynewsdesk Source ID
    3416302
    Eutelsat and Paratus expand LEO connectivity in Southern Africa
    • Multi-year, multi-million agreement expanding the partnership between Eutelsat and its long-standing partner
    • Boosting Paratus’ ongoing deployment of Eutelsat’s LEO services across the region
    • Addressing growing demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity solutions across key sectors in Southern Africa

    Paris, 12 November 2025 – Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 – Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) and Paratus, one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing network services providers, have signed a new multi-million, multi-year agreement to expand the delivery of Eutelsat’s OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity services across Southern Africa.

    This new multi-year agreement expands the existing partnership between Eutelsat and its long-standing partner, Paratus, to deliver an extended range of LEO services across Southern Africa, including solutions for fixed sites, as well as comms-on-the-move and comms-on-pause in South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

    Paratus has been a long-time distributor of Eutelsat’s GEO connectivity services and was one of the first adopters of its OneWeb LEO connectivity capacities in early 2024. Paratus also built the teleport facility in Angola, a key Eutelsat ground station supporting the deployment of OneWeb LEO services in the region.

    Ghassan Murat, RVP MEA, Eutelsat said: “Demand for resilient and high-speed connectivity continues to grow across Southern Africa, particularly in sectors operating across remote and distributed sites. This new multi-year agreement reflects the success of our collaboration with Paratus and our shared ambition to provide reliable, scalable, low-latency connectivity in the region. By combining Eutelsat’s LEO capabilities with Paratus’ established network and operational presence, we are enabling organizations to stay connected wherever they operate.”

    Schalk Erasmus, CEO of Paratus, added: “Expanding our LEO service offering with Eutelsat strengthens our strategy of delivering adaptable and robust connectivity solutions across Africa. The combined GEO and LEO capability allows us to serve customers with greater flexibility and performance. Working together, we are supporting our customers’ growth and digital transformation, even in the most challenging environments.”

    IMAGE_Press_Woman-with-man-at-desk-with-phone_GettyImages-2163189348-121125.webp 3415807 Southern Africa, new LEO deal with Paratus, © GettyImages
    Industry
    Enterprise Telecom 0

    Eutelsat and Paratus, one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing network services providers, have signed a new multi-million, multi-year agreement to expand the delivery of Eutelsat’s OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity services across Southern Africa.

    Mynewsdesk Source ID
    3415807
    Eutelsat and Tusass expand LEO services to Greenland
    • Strategic partnership to deliver secure, low latency connectivity across Greenland
    • Enabling critical services, including mobility, maritime, emergency response, and remote community access
    • Highlighting strategic role of LEO in Arctic coverage, digital resilience, and sovereign connectivity

    Paris, 1 October 2025 - Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) Tusass, Greenland’s national provider of telecommunications services, has signed a strategic multi-year agreement to bring Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity to Greenland. The expanded partnership will enable the delivery of secure and resilient communications across the country’s vast and remote territory.

    Through this partnership, Tusass will leverage Eutelsat’s OneWeb network to address a wide range of connectivity needs—from community broadband access to mission-critical infrastructure, including maritime, mobility, and emergency services. The deployment supports Tusass in delivering on its strategic objectives for digital inclusion, infrastructure integration, and sovereign capacity across Greenland.

    Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellites operate in a polar orbit, enabling seamless high-latitude coverage and ensuring low latency, high-speed connectivity in Arctic conditions. This capability is especially critical for Greenland, where many areas lack access to terrestrial infrastructure. OneWeb’s proven resilience in challenging environments such as Northern Canada further underscores its reliability across similarly remote Arctic regions.

    As resilience and sovereignty become top priorities for Arctic and European nations, this partnership reinforces Eutelsat’s role as a trusted enabler of secure, sovereign-grade connectivity solutions.

    Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat, said: “Critical infrastructure has become a key focus area across Europe, and we are delighted to continue our work with Tusass to support its efforts in connecting remote communities, backbone infrastructure, and enabling essential services such as rescue operations and maritime security and safety. Our expanded partnership highlights the growing relevance of LEO for both resiliency and redundancy, and for meeting the evolving sovereign and commercial connectivity needs of remote regions. As Arctic nations seek to reinforce their infrastructure Eutelsat delivers a unique capability to connect communities and critical systems, wherever they are.”

    Toke Binzer, Tusass Chief Executive Officeradded: “Greenland presents one of the world’s most complex connectivity challenges. By partnering with Eutelsat and its OneWeb LEO solution, we are strengthening our ability to meet the needs of our people and institutions— from everyday internet access to robust national communications infrastructure. This agreement reflects our commitment to resilient, future-proof connectivity that serves all society.”

    OneWeb antennas Greenland Credit Tusass.JPG 3407832 Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES
    Industry
    Enterprise Telecom 0

    Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) Tusass, Greenland’s national provider of telecommunications services, has signed a strategic multi-year agreement to bring Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity to Greenland.

    Mynewsdesk Source ID
    3407832
    Photo of a car at night

    CELLULAR BACKHAUL ON WHEELS

    Transporting high-speed, low-latency connectivity to sites with limited internet access.

    FOLLOW THE CROWDS

    Customers want reliable communications whether or not there's a fibre network close by.

    Our multi-orbit connectivity system delivers the reach and performance they look for. 

    Our backhaul solutions are readymade for rapid deployment to fill those coverage gaps.

    • Choose from a catalogue of robust hardware.
    • Deploy fast and deliver connectivity on demand.
    • Manage backhaul traffic better with digital products and APIs.
    • Transform the digital experience in hard to reach places.
    Photo for backhaul on wheels

    DEPLOYABLE CONNECTIVITY

    Eutelsat's LEO coverage, capacity, access and features are helping MNOs transform the lives of customers and communities.

    Traffic management

    Cost-effective and flexible network service with useful backhaul features, including Routed Mode, Dual APN and variable MTUs.

    Installations

    Hardware design, installation, provisioning and activation for fast set-up.

    Applications

    Greater access to latency-sensitive communications software.

    Always on

    Reserved capacity for critical communications in the event of emergencies or natural disaster.

    HOW EUTELSAT DELIVERS BACKHAUL ON WHEELS

    We work with MNOs as direct partners or through certified distribution partners around the world. We provide the software platform, tools and technical support needed to ensure network services for customers. (Carriers who are DP's and ones who resell). We advise our partners on installations, equipment and service activation. 

    Photo of a man in a data center

    Ready to connect?

    Photo of a woman using digital VR camera for a repair job

    CELLULAR BACKHAUL VIA SATELLITE

    Cost-effective connectivity for rural and remote customers.

    A BOOST TO THE MOBILE NETWORK

    Mobile network operators (MNOs) need more ways than one to keep their customers reliably connected.

    Our satellites have become part of their multi-domain strategy. 

    We design the backhaul solutions that help them reduce their coverage gaps.

    • Choose the right hardware for every backhaul site.
    • Follow the clear guidance on hardware installations.
    • Improve the digital experience for customers using lower latency and higher throughput.
    • Manage backhaul traffic better with digital products and APIs.
    Photo of equipment for backhaul transmission

    DATA ASSURANCE & SECURITY

    Eutelsat's multi-orbit coverage, capacity, access and features are helping MNOs transform the lives of customers and communities.

    Network features

    A range of unique applications including Routed Mode, Dual APN and variable MTUs.

    Installations

    Hardware design, deployability, provisioning and activation for fast set-up.

    Always on

    Reserved capacity for consistent emergency communications and support for those affected by disaster.

    Applications

    High-speed, low-latency communications everywhere powered by a global low Earth orbit system.

    HOW EUTELSAT WORKS

    We work with MNOs as direct partners or through certified distribution partners around the world. We provide the software platform, tools and technical support needed to ensure network services for customers (carriers who are DPs and ones who resell). We advise our partners on installations, equipment and service activation. 

    Photo of a man using a tablet while camping during winter

    Ready to connect?

    Aerial Photo fo a Soccer Field

    HD & UHD

    Delivering stunning content consistently.

    Reaching all audiences with consistent HD and UHD quality

    Audiences expect seamless HD and UHD experiences, while broadcasters and content providers face pressure to ensure consistent quality across a fragmented digital landscape. Meeting this demand at scale requires a strategic, robust infrastructure for:

    • Reaching all viewers across wide geographic regions.
    • Delivering content to multiple networks.
    • Ensuring bandwidth availability, especially at peak times, to deliver a consistent, high-quality service.
    Photo of People watching UHD Big Flat TV

    Delivering an unprecedented viewing experience

    As demand for high-definition and ultra-high-definition content continues to grow, satellite is a powerful and reliable solution for broadcasters aiming to deliver consistent HD and UHD quality at scale, especially for live or linear content.

    Reach

    Satellite reaches audiences in remote and underserved areas where broadband infrastructure is limited or inconsistent.

    Bandwidth

    Stable, high-bandwidth transmission ideal for HD and UHD formats, with minimal risk of buffering or degradation.

    Scalability

    Satellite enables simultaneous distribution to multiple networks and platforms, making it ideal for live events and linear broadcasting.

    Consistency

    Unlike internet-based delivery, satellite delivery is not affected by local network congestion or peak-time slowdowns.

    HOW IT WORKS?

    Satellites are a natural platform for broadcasting HD and UHD content. Their bandwidth availability and wide coverage areas enable viewers to receive the same quality signal wherever they are located within the satellite coverage. 

    When broadcasters need to reach all viewers across a region, no matter their location, it can be challenging to deliver content to all networks. The DVB-SIS (Single Illumination System) technology standard resolves this by enabling both terrestrial and satellite networks to be fed from a single content source. Satellite has the available bandwidth and extensive reach, to provide extremely popular, premium quality content to all users across vast territories, as well as offset terrestrial networks for a smooth, consistent viewing experience.

    As demand for UHD grows, and broadcasters look to differentiate their offer, satellite provides the perfect distribution platform to handle bandwidth requirements, delivering consistent quality to a maximum of viewers across wide geographic regions. Eutelsat's satellite capacity distributes UHD content to cable and IP network operators as well as DTH homes across our extensive satellite footprints.

    Image of a satellite and the Earth

    "With 4K standards, France Télévisions is proud to deliver France 2 and France 3 with outstanding picture and sound quality. Eutelsat provided an innovative, competitive solution for distributing content via terrestrial and satellite networks. Their technical expertise and service quality were key to our success."

    Jacques Donat-Bouillud
    Head of Distribution, France Télévisions

    Ready to wow your audience?

    Photo of a man using a tablet with headphones

    NEXT-GEN. VIDEO CONTENT DELIVERY

    Use the latest satellite technology to deliver content and reach audiences anytime, anywhere, on the screen they choose.

    MEETING EVOLVING AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS

    Delivering a truly equal viewing experience across diverse geographies and audiences has become a complex challenge as broadcasters and content providers struggle to ensure an engaging, inclusive and reliable service. Challenges include:

    • Reaching audiences on the screens of their choice - especially in remote or underserved areas

    • Delivering a consistent, high-quality, viewing experience across multiple devices

    • Simplifying content findability and discoverability in an ever-expanding media landscape, for a personalised content experience

    • Reducing power consumption compared to terrestrial IP to lower the carbon footprint of the service 

    Photo of someone watching video on a phone

    REVOLUTIONISING TV BROADCASTING

    Eutelsat isn’t just keeping up with the future of video— we’re helping shape it, thanks to our cutting-edge satellite infrastructure and pioneering role in next-generation broadcasting standards.

    Industry Standardisation

    Leading the charge with DVB-NIP and DVB-I standards, for seamless delivery of live and on-demand content to smart TVs, mobile devices and set-top boxes, enabling multi-screen experiences and simplified content discovery across platforms.

    Scalable & Cost-Effective Delivery

    By leveraging satellite multicast capabilities, Eutelsat helps broadcasters overcome the limitations of terrestrial networks and broadband congestion, ensuring consistent quality and predictable costs, especially for high-demand events.

    Massive Reach for FAST & OTT Services

    Eutelsat’s satellite-based solutions extend Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) and OTT services to millions of homes, even in regions with limited infrastructure —unlocking new monetisation opportunities and audience growth.

    Experienced Experts

    Our team of media supply chain and TV channel distribution experts have extensive market and technical expertise to help you roll-out your video services efficiently and maximise new opportunities.

    Eutelsat has been a great partner for us at wedotv. Not only are our channels accessible to consumers via the HOTBIRD satellites, but additionally every cable network or IPTV service in the region can downlink these free-to-air channels for their basic cable packages.”

    Philipp Rotermund
    wedotv co-CEO

    Contact our video experts

    Subscribe to Telecom