At the sidelines of the Connected Africa Summit 2026, cabinet secretaries representing respective East African countries met to discuss the development of a jointly owned satellite internet network.
The executives from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan met under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) umbrella. Joint funding for the project was the central discussion in the ministerial meeting.
The engagement successfully culminated in the adoption of a Ministerial Resolution to oversee the initiative, the greenlighting of a funding model for a full feasibility study, and the formal endorsement of the satellite’s development roadmap.
The principal secretary, State Department for ICT and Digital Economy, was part of Kenya’s delegation. He outlined the connectivity value of adding satellite internet to the existing infrastructure.
“By combining fiber infrastructure with satellite solutions, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and reliable regional connectivity ecosystem,” the PS stated.
Only Kenya is not a landlocked country; hence, satellite internet provides a means for the 3 to have some autonomy over their internet infrastructure.
It will also help extend access to remote communities and strengthen network resilience, especially in areas where traditional infrastructure is lacking, thereby promoting digital inclusion and economic growth in the region.
The NCIP is a regional initiative launched in 2013 by Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with South Sudan joining in 2015.
Digital connectivity is one of the core pillars of the NCIP framework to create a One Network Area (ONA) integration, cross-border broadband interconnectivity, and regional connectivity.
The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, chaired the meeting. It was also attended by senior ICT officials, regulators, and space agency representatives from across the East African Community.
Kenya and Uganda have recently sent a co-owned climate monitoring camera to the International Space Station, a positive precedent for shared digital infrastructure.
Satellite communication available in the region is largely foreign-owned, with Elon Musk’s Starlink leading in terms of subscribers in Kenya.
