Bridging Mali’s Digital Divide

Intelsat Helps Orange Mali Improve Connectivity Access and Transform Lives

About

Only 57% of the population of Mali, the eighth-largest country in Africa, has internet access. Orange Mali, a leading mobile network operator, turned to Intelsat to bridge the digital divide, reconnect communities, and deliver reliable broadband connectivity to even the most rural locations and difficult-to-reach populations.

Customer Challenge

Extend the availability of reliable and robust broadband connectivity across the country.

Orange Mali sought to expand the availability of broadband connectivity to all corners of the country. This effort had been hindered by decades of conflict, instability, and adverse weather conditions, resulting in frequent service disruptions, inefficiencies and higher costs. To meet the growing demand for 3G and 4G connectivity, and support the country’s economic growth and digital transformation, it was essential to expand broadband reach to include remote rural areas and poverty-stricken population centers.

Seeking a cost-effective and scalable solution that would expand coverage and capacity, and minimize reliance on Mali’s degraded and oft-vandalized terrestrial infrastructure, they sought guidance from a trusted partner who also had extensive experience with VSAT technology, and thus turned to Intelsat.

How We Helped

Intelsat partnered closely with Orange Mali to develop and deploy a robust and innovative satellite-powered solution designed to overcome Mali’s vast size and logistical challenges, and meet the country’s unique connectivity needs.

Leveraging strong local partnerships, a deep understanding of the region, and knowledge of Mali’s network, Intelsat designed and successfully deployed the first satellite-powered 4G network in West Africa, harnessing the power of the Intelsat 23 (IS-23) and Intelsat 10-02 (IS-1002) satellites to bring reliable 3G and 4G connectivity to even the most remote parts of the country.

Intelsat selected and deployed equipment capable of operating in Mali’s harsh and challenging environment and managed all aspects of installation and the network, enabling the operator to remain focused on its core operations. By using existing infrastructure where possible, Intelsat was also able to reduce costs and accelerate Orange Mali’s implementation timeline.

To ensure seamless ongoing operations, Intelsat and its partners provide 24/7 in-country support to address any incidents as they arise. Proactive network monitoring around the clock allows for early detection and resolution of issues, often before the customer even notices an outage. As a result, downtime has been significantly reduced. Additionally, experts in VSAT and RAN are readily available to assist Orange Mali in managing and optimizing their network for improved performance and efficiency.

Results

Intelsat’s satellite solution has enabled Orange Mali to offer reliable 3G and 4G connectivity across the country, transforming Mali’s connectivity landscape.

• The project marked the first successful deployment of a satellite-powered 4G network in Francophone West Africa.
• Orange Mali’s satellite capacity has increased from 200 Mbps to over 5 Gbps, enabling robust connectivity across more than 60 remote sites in 30 different areas.
• 360,000 people living in previously unreachable rural areas now have access to connectivity.

Connectivity continues to deliver measurable impacts for Mali’s economy while empowering personal and professional growth.

• Reliable access to phone and internet services has stimulated job creation and the emergence of new businesses in the southern village of Kabala.
• Improved connectivity has encouraged displaced residents in the northern regions to return home, as people feel safer when they can connect with family in other parts of the country.
• Mali women are pursuing new opportunities to access land, technology, financing, and markets, amplifying their contributions to the country’s progress.

Business growth opportunities have emerged for Orange Mali.

• Intelsat’s solution has enabled the operator to move beyond basic connectivity and begin offering new services that meet the connectivity needs of businesses, further solidifying its role in the region’s digital transformation.