Intelsat and Coca-Cola Partner to Promote Digital Access in Africa
Intelsat S.A. and The Coca-Cola Company are working together to bring satellite-enabled Wi-Fi services to remote communities across Africa. The partnership will support both companies’ future business plans and also their mutual efforts to promote sustainable development, especially in underserved communities.
Internet access is a proven tool for stimulating economic growth in developing countries, with the World Bank reporting that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration correlates to a 1.38 percent increase in GDP growth. With Intelsat’s satellite broadband services, connectivity can be delivered to rural areas where there is limited or no terrestrial or wireless connectivity, opening up a host of additional opportunities for social and economic development.
The Coca-Cola Company is already working in developing communities around the world to foster sustainable development activity like supporting clean water and sanitation services as well as economic empowerment for women. Under the new partnership, Intelsat will work with The Coca-Cola Company to establish Wi-Fi access at certain retail facilities in rural areas, enabling personal and commercial connectivity for citizens.
“We’re partnering with public and private sector organizations to address social issues, bringing basic necessities to millions of people through our sustainability-related programs,” said Eric Welsh, Global Director, The Coca-Cola Company. “The Internet is a tremendous, undisputed force for economic growth and social change, and with the reach of Intelsat’s satellite broadband services, we plan to deliver the benefits of connectivity to even more communities across Africa.”
“Satellite connectivity is the easiest way to deliver Internet services to the most people in the shortest possible time frame in infrastructure-poor rural and remote areas,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s Vice President and General Manager of Broadband. “Our fleet innovations, including our Intelsat EpicNG high-performance satellites, make access to broadband satellite services easier, and the work Coca-Cola is doing in local communities around the world fits perfectly with our vision to remove the digital divide often found in remote areas. With the inherent advantages that satellite provides in terms of reach and scalability, we provide a solution in delivering the benefits of internet access to hundreds of communities around the world in a quick, cost-efficient manner.”
