NuRAN, a Canadian telecommunications infrastructure provider operating in Africa, has announced a pilot program that will see it use Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service as high-performance backhaul for a site in Nigeria. The company is testing whether the connectivity provided by LEO satellites can an accelerate 4G migration, edge AI, and local compute.
NuRAN states in a press release that it has no direct contractual or commercial agreement with SpaceX or Starlink in this pilot and has obtained access through a third-party service provider arrangement. The company said that it will be working with Infratel, a long time partner, on the pilot.
“Backhaul is the key that unlocks NuRAN’s next phase of growth,” said Francis Létourneau, NuRAN Wireless director and Chief Executive Officer. “Integrating Starlink service obtained through third-party service providers with our own rural solution could be a genuine step change for our business. As we advance 4G migration, edge AI, NuEnergy and other infrastructure-led initiatives, our focus is on deploying scalable solutions that enhance the utility, capacity and long-term value of our rural site portfolio.”
“Infratel values its long-standing relationship with NuRAN and the opportunity to support the evaluation of advanced connectivity solutions in Nigeria,” said Tunji Alabi, Managing Director of Infratel. “Licensed Starlink service, made available through third-party service provider arrangements, offers a compelling way to bring LEO satellite backhaul into live commercial networks. We believe this initiative can meaningfully accelerate reliable, higher-capacity connectivity to underserved communities.”
NuRAN says that it will use terrestrial transmission where practical and adds that satellite services may be a viable option in cases where microwave, TV white space, and other transmission technologies aren’t practical. If the pilot is successful, NuRAN intends to copy the blueprint in other markets where it operates and Starlink is licensed, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Cameroon.
“We have always said Starlink service is an opportunity for NuRAN, not a threat — and we are now putting that conviction to work through a service-provider-led pilot. If this pilot performs the way we expect, we have a repeatable model we can take across our African footprint,” said Létourneau.
Africa’s geography makes laying terrestrial fiber incredibly difficult. Poor roads, wildlife, and other hazards add to the complexity of connecting Africa, especially rural regions. While satellite internet may not be suitable for hyperscale data centers, the connectivity could be sufficient for edge data centers as a bridge between those facilities and more robust networks. NuRAN says that it intends to become one of Africa’s most significant enterprise users of satellite connectivity through third-party service providers.