To enhance internet connectivity in Libya, OneWeb, the satellite internet rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink, has entered into a multi-million-dollar, multi-year partnership with Rawafed Libya for Telecommunications & Technology (RLTT). The French company Eutelsat strengthens its collaboration with RLTT, granting the mobile operator exclusive access to OneWeb’s satellite constellation. The partnership aims to provide low-latency connectivity nationwide, with service set to commence in early 2024.
The agreement prioritizes critical sectors such as oil/gas, telecommunications, finance, government, and humanitarian organizations, underscoring OneWeb’s commitment to address connectivity needs in various critical areas. The initiative is expected to expand coverage gradually, aligning with OneWeb’s ambitions to achieve nationwide reach.
This collaboration builds upon Rawafed Libya’s previous association with Eutelsat in 2013, where the company partnered for capacity on the KA-SAT satellite to support IP trunking services for its wireless broadband network.
While Starlink, spearheaded by SpaceX, made its presence known in Libyan skies last year, it is noteworthy that the country remains one of the key African markets where the service has yet to be officially launched. OneWeb’s entry into Libya comes as it continues trials in South Africa, the continent’s largest IT market, aiming to roll out its services ahead of Starlink amidst regulatory challenges with Icasa, the country’s telecoms regulator.
Libya’s digital landscape faces significant challenges, with slow connectivity speeds, sporadic access, and internet censorship prevalent issues. Approximately half of the country’s 6.8 million population uses the internet, and as of January 2023, Libya had 3.14 million active internet users, with a penetration rate of 45.9 per cent. The country’s fastest internet offers 8.64 MB/s for downloads and 6.25 MB/s for uploads, ranking 161st out of 179 countries on Ookla’s Speedtest. This is well below the global average upload and download speeds of 60 MB/s and 25 MB/s, respectively.
Notably, Libya’s internet resilience is among the lowest in Africa, with an overall score of 33 per cent and a 29th position globally. This is attributed to poor network infrastructure and performance, making it the region with the slowest internet in the world.
Compounding these challenges are historical issues stemming from the era of Moammar Gadhafi, including internet shutdowns employed by the government to control public opinion during polls and protests. Even after Gadhafi’s fall, intermittent internet blackouts persist due to ongoing conflicts over power control since the Arab Spring of 2011. The resultant civil war has particularly destabilized industries such as telecommunications.
