Thales has been present in Africa for over 30 years in the space sector.
Thales Alenia Space is a major satellite communications player in Africa, contributing to such world-renowned programmes such as Arabsat, Nilesat, Eutelsat and RascomStar-QAF. In addition, the company will supply a constellation of 12 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), O3b, and will offer broadband Internet services to most African countries.
Thales Alenia Space has already delivered and installed 51 Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) receiving stations in 47 African countries since 1996.
In 2015, Eutelsat Communications ordered from Thales Alenia Space a new-generation High Throughput Satellite for Africa. To be launched in 2019, the all-electric satellite will be the first to use Thales Alenia Space's new Spacebus Neo platform.