A new report released on Friday, May 15, 2026 by the Africa CEO Forum (ACF) and Askya Investment Partners warns that the rapid expansion of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet across Africa risks eroding public revenues, weakening local telecoms industries and undermining digital sovereignty if governments fail to establish clear regulatory frameworks.
The report, titled “Telecoms Offshored: The Strategic Challenge of Satellite Internet for African Economies,” argues that satellite operators frequently enter African markets under lighter licensing and taxation obligations than those applied to traditional terrestrial telecom operators, creating structural asymmetries that distort competition and reduce national value capture.
It identifies what it calls a usage gap as Africa’s more pressing challenge: 60 percent of Africans already live within network coverage but remain offline, held back by device costs, data affordability and limited digital skills. Satellite broadband, the report argues, is most effective as a complement to existing terrestrial networks rather than a substitute, particularly for remote and underserved areas.
The report calls on African governments to harmonise licensing regimes at the regional and continental level, require in-country data gateways, apply critical infrastructure security standards to satellite operators and tie licences to national development objectives. It recommends involving ministries of finance, economy and defence, as well as heads of state, in decisions it frames as strategic rather than merely regulatory.
“The regulatory choices governments make today will determine if Africa builds its digital future or imports it,” said Babacar Seck, Founder and Managing Partner of Askya Investment Partners.
The report was released in alignment with the 2026 ACF theme, “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership.” The ACF’s annual meeting brings together heads of state, ministers, regulators, telecoms operators and investors to advance Africa’s economic policy agenda.
