• Multi-year contract supporting Paratus in offering market-leading Internet services in South Africa
• Confirming the significant demand for connectivity on the African continent, and the unparalleled assets of Eutelsat in enabling it to be efficiently met

Paris / Pretoria, 03 September 2020: Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) and Paratus, have signed a multi-year distribution agreement to bring high quality network connectivity to South Africa.

Paratus will leverage the unprecedented operational flexibility and power of EUTELSAT KONNECT, the new-generation high throughput satellite to bring connectivity to remote and rural locations across South Africa to businesses operating in farming, game farms and the SME segment and consumers, for home working, home schooling and general Internet use.

Launched at the beginning of September 2020, Paratus’ offers, based around packages of 10, 20 and 30 mbps, with 24/7 technical support, and operating with small, cost-efficient dishes are already seeing a high level of demand, highlighting the strong need for high-speed connectivity in remote areas.

Commenting on the agreement, Managing Director, Paratus South Africa, Kallie Carlsen, said: “Getting connectivity in remote locations is not easy; while price is key to attracting customers, the quality of network – both connection and support – quickly proves more important. There is too often a disconnect between customer expectations and the delivery of service. With the partnership between Paratus and Eutelsat we aim to overcome these boundaries and provide superior services for South Africa.”

Guido Merien-van Sprundel of Eutelsat, Sales Director, Southern Africa, of Eutelsat added: “We are delighted to partner with Paratus to bring high quality, reliable connectivity to businesses and consumers in South Africa who are currently in the digital divide. This agreement reflects the significant demand on the African continent, and the unparalleled assets of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite in enabling it to be efficiently met. This contract also highlights the pertinence of Eutelsat’s multi-channel distribution strategy.”