Botswana Mining Review Comprehensive Coverage of the Progress and Achievements in the Mining Sector
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Pan-African telecommunications provider Paratus Botswana and Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat Communications SA are deploying low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks to drive digital transformation across Southern Africa’s mining sector.
The companies showcased their integrated network architecture as official connectivity partners at the Future of Mining Summit 2026, targeting remote operations where legacy terrestrial infrastructure struggles to meet data demands. By pairing Eutelsat’s LEO constellation with Paratus’s ground-based fiber and wireless networks, the alliance aims to deliver high-bandwidth, low-latency links to isolated pit sites.
The push comes as mining operators across the region accelerate digital adoption implementing automated fleets, real-time sensor analytics, and remote monitoring to lift operational efficiency and improve safety standards.
“The future of mining is not just in terms of the minerals and what we can extract from the ground, it’s also about the ecosystem of industries that enable mining to thrive,” said Shawn Bruwer, Managing Director of Paratus Botswana. “We see the mining sector as a catalyst for growth across a range of supporting industries. That includes people, power, rail, roads and telecommunications. Modern mining requires connectivity that is integrated, scalable and resilient, and the support to go with it.”
Satellite capabilities are increasingly viewed as essential for redundancy and reach in African mining hubs, where optic fiber or microwave connections are frequently delayed, limited, or prone to downtime. Eutelsat’s constellation formed via its 2023 merger with OneWeb operates more than 600 LEO satellites designed to maintain continuous throughput for data-heavy industrial operations.
“Integrated network models are creating a new connectivity environment for the mining sector,” said Philippe Baudier, Vice-President of Eutelsat Africa. “By combining Eutelsat OneWeb’s low earth orbit capabilities with Paratus’ extensive network and expertise across Africa, their local support and experience in mining environments, mining operations can achieve greater efficiency, resilience and continuity.”
Paratus Botswana, which operates a network covering more than 90% of the country’s population, has systematically expanded its enterprise footprint since acquiring broadband provider BBi in 2022. The provider is leveraging its cross-border infrastructure to position Botswana as a transit hub for regional data flows across Southern Africa.
