Starlink’s satellite constellation now provides backhaul for over 100 of Africa Mobile Networks’ (AMN) rural base stations across Nigeria, with plans to double the number by the year’s end. AMN reports a 45% increase in traffic on sites migrated to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) backhaul.
The partnership between AMN and Starlink, formalized in 2023, aims to connect rural mobile network base stations using satellite broadband services. In April, the first base station utilizing Starlink’s satellite backhaul went live in Yebu, Nigeria. Since then, more than 100 terminals in rural villages have followed suit.
By integrating Starlink’s LEO backhaul with its multi-carrier and multi-technology AMN Radio Node (ARN), AMN has been able to remotely increase base station capacity without changing existing hardware, further extending mobile connectivity to previously unconnected communities.
According to AMN, the introduction of mobile networks has significantly impacted rural areas, allowing farmers to access market data, healthcare providers to consult with doctors in other towns, and businesses to grow beyond their local communities.
In related satellite news, Japan’s SoftBank has signed a deal with Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation to offer satellite communications services, targeting businesses and government agencies throughout Japan.
