https://spacewatch.global/tag/africa/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 19 Sep 2025 07:41:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/africa/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-mapping-the-coast-to-save-the-past-satellite-data-supports-cultural-heritage-in-africa/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67606 Over the last few decades, coastlines in Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal have undergone significant shifts, shaped by climate pressures and human development. Important heritage sites that include Swahili mosques, late stone age sites, ancient coastal trading settlements, and colonial-era buildings that once stood firm on solid ground are now threatened by erosion, rising seas, or burial under layers of silt. Some have already disappeared. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/africas-space-industry-valued-at-usd-22-64-billion/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61435 Space in Africa has released the 2024 edition of its African Space Annual Industry Report. Currently valued at USD 22.64 billion, the market is set to experience substantial growth by 2026, driven by strategic initiatives in satellite manufacturing, infrastructure development, and the rise of NewSpace companies. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/italy-africa-space-conference-to-hold-in-rome-on-july-15-16/ Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56121 Representatives from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will meet with Representatives from Africa. The two days of meetings will revolve around relations between Italy and the African countries. The conference will open at the headquarters of the Ministry on the morning of Monday 15 July and continue in the afternoon and the following day at the headquarters of the Italian Space Agency (ASI).]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/04/riis-appointed-as-interim-host-of-dea-program-management-office/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:00:36 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54750 The Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS) has become the interim host for the pan-African Digital Earth Africa Program Management Office, a free platform providing satellite imagery and products specific to the African continent. Digital Earth Africa is on track to improve the lives of African people and support decision-makers across the continent to assess, plan, and protect their countries from the potential impacts of climate change.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-how-africa-and-europe-may-be-compromising-private-sector-participation-in-the-african-space-industry/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=52545 Africa, much like the US, Europe, and China, has demonstrated its interest in using space as a means to a societal end. In Africa’s case, the continent has awakened to how space, specifically space science and technology, can assist in addressing Africa’s social and economic challenges. The way the African Space Strategy puts it, Africa needs “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena." The rapid global development of spatial activities is a nifty representation of the fact that the same awakening happened in other parts of the world way before Africa. This may mean that Africa is late to the party, but perhaps it's more encouraging to see it as Africa being able to learn the best model for space development from other more advanced spacefaring nations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/09/register-today-for-next-space-arbitration-regionally-by-laura-zielinski-on-26-september-2023/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:00:05 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51103 The fourth event will take place on 26 September 2023 at 4 pm CEST and focus on Africa. The panel will discuss the current state of the space industry in Africa, with a focus on public policies and private initiatives in different countries and regions. It will also address the potential for disputes and the available dispute resolution mechanisms.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/09/vodafone-and-amazon-to-extend-connectivity-in-africa-and-europe/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 06:00:35 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50887 Vodafone and Project Kuiper, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite (LEO) communications initiative, announced a collaboration through which Vodafone and Vodacom plan to use Project Kuiper’s network to extend the reach of 4G/5G services to more of their customers in Europe and Africa. In addition, Vodafone and Vodacom plan to use Project Kuiper’s high-bandwidth, low-latency satellite network to bring the benefits of 4G/5G connectivity to areas that may otherwise be challenging and prohibitively expensive to serve via traditional fiber or microwave solutions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/space-in-africa-publishes-annual-african-space-report/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50776 Space in Africa, a media, consulting, and analytics company, has published the 2023 edition of its African Space Industry Report. The report projects the African space economy to grow by 16.16% to USD 22.64 billion by 2026, and with the remarkable spurt in the economy in 2022, the industry is on track to reach this target.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/intelsat-and-maxiq-space-complete-stem-ed-in-africa/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 06:00:49 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50374 https://spacewatch.global/2023/03/airbus-wins-angola-contract-for-earth-observation-satellite/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=47012 https://spacewatch.global/2023/01/european-commission-plans-for-africa-and-latin-america/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 07:00:09 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=46191 During the 14th session on deepening space cooperation between Europe, Africa, and Latin America, Tomasz Husak disclosed some of the plans the European Commission had for Africa and Latin America]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/11/china-and-namibia-strengthen-space-diplomatic-ties/ Wed, 02 Nov 2022 07:00:11 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=44466 Continuing its cooperation with African countries, China has taken steps to strengthen its relations with Namibia in the space industry. China recently organized a "Talk with Taikonauts" session with eight African countries; Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Algeria, and Senegal]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/06/rwandan-space-agency-signs-mou-collaborates-with-the-global-satellite-operators-association/ Mon, 13 Jun 2022 06:00:59 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=41479 The Rwandan Space Agency (RSA) and the Global Satellite Operator’s Association (GSOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance satellite communication services and fast-track Africa’s digital inclusion plans, Africa News reported.  The agreement was signed by Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary-General of GSOA and Colonel Francis Ngabo, RSA’s Director-General.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-african-states-and-international-space-treaties/ Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=24954&preview=true&preview_id=24954 by Nelly-Helen Neji Ebruka As often said, when men reached for the stars, lawyers reached for their books. After Yuri Gagarin’s historic space flight in 1957, the international community through the United Nations deemed it pertinent to agree on certain principles and rules to regulate outer space affairs. Space exploration undoubtedly brought new ideas in the development of various fields like science, medicine, media and communications, etc. and of course legal lacuna had to be filled.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/06/digital-earth-africa-releases-analysis-ready-satellite-data-for-all-of-africa/ Tue, 16 Jun 2020 05:00:23 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=23469 The Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) platform now has operational analysis-ready Earth observation (EO) data over Africa, using free and open images captured by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/06/travel-africa-network-selects-eutelsats-hotbird-position-to-launch-first-hd-african-travel-channel/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 05:00:30 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=23079 Eutelsat Communications’ HOTBIRD video hotspot has been selected by Travel Africa Network for the broadcast of its first High Definition African travel channel, with 100% African content dedicated to promoting tourism and hospitality in Africa.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/researchers-harness-satellite-imagery-and-ai-to-help-fight-poverty-in-africa/ Thu, 28 May 2020 05:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22916 Stanford University scholars Marshall Burke, David Lobell and Stefano Ermon have spent the past five years leading a team of researchers to home in on an efficient way to find and track impoverished zones across Africa.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/guarantco-and-pidg-technical-assistance-support-kacific-in-covid-19-response/ Tue, 26 May 2020 05:00:58 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22876 GuarantCo, with funding from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) Technical Assistance, is providing a US$500,000 grant to support Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing satellite communication systems. These systems will allow free connections of up to 1,000 rural health posts and clinics across Asia Pacific. A […]]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/thales-alenia-space-wins-two-contracts-from-esa-to-study-future-upgrades-of-egnos/ Tue, 19 May 2020 05:00:28 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22641 The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded two contracts to Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), concerning EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). These contracts, fully financed under the European Commission H2020 programme concern study phases on the system evolution. They will call on Thales Alenia Space’s expertise as […]]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/gsma-opens-innovation-fund-for-mobile-internet-adoption-and-digital-inclusion-and-calls-for-applications/ Fri, 01 May 2020 05:00:03 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22094 The Global System for Global Communications Association (GSMA) has opened applications for the Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion.]]>