Mobile satellite connectivity available in SA

28 February 2026 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT

Space42, a UAE based AI powered SpaceTech company listed as SPACE42 on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, has commercially launched its next generation mobile satellite service, Thuraya 4 NGS, available in South Africa as of February 2026. This marks the company’s first operational footprint in the country and introduces secure, high uptime L-band connectivity designed for industries operating in demanding environments.

Built on the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, Thuraya 4 delivers advanced software defined capabilities that Space42 describes as dynamic, secure, and resistant to jamming. The system is engineered to maintain reliable communication in isolated or adverse conditions, making it particularly relevant to South Africa’s energy, mining, maritime, agriculture, and tourism sectors. These industries often require resilient, non-terrestrial connectivity to support safety, operational continuity, and real time data exchange.

A key advantage of the rollout is seamless interoperability with terrestrial networks, enabling organisations to integrate satellite and ground infrastructure without disruption. For South Africa, this enhances communications resilience across remote sites and coastal operations.

Thuraya-4 is a geostationary mobile satellite built on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, designed for efficiency and long operational life. It uses a software-defined payload with onboard signal processing, allowing reconfiguration of coverage, power allocation and modulation schemes via software updates rather than hardware changes. This enables the satellite to adapt to different user demands over its mission lifetime.

A key feature is its 12-metre L-band reflector antenna, one of the largest deployed for mobile satellite services, combined with onboard processing that supports up to 3200 dynamic channels and flexible, spot-beam steering. L-band frequencies are resilient in rain, dust, and foliage – especially useful across South Africa’s varied terrain and coastal environments. The system is able to deliver L-band data throughput above 1 Mbps.

For more information visit www.thuraya.com

Further reading:

Next-gen Wi Fi 6E connectivity for embedded systems
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Espressif Systems has expanded its connectivity portfolio with the introduction of the ESP32-E22, the company’s first Wi-Fi 6E connectivity co-processor.

Read more...

---

Quectel redefines connectivity with RG660Qx 5G Series
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Purpose-built to meet the demands of next-generation IoT and wireless broadband, these modules leverage the cutting-edge Qualcomm X85 and X82 5G Modem-RF systems to deliver enterprise-grade performance.

Read more...

---

Contactless IO-Link couplers
IOT Electronics Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The IO-Link couplers from Phoenix Contact are industrial contactless couplers designed to transmit power and IO-Link data across a small air gap without physical connectors.

Read more...

---

Quectel’s RG255C-NA and RM255C-GL accelerate 5G RedCap adoption
iCorp Technologies Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Quectel’s RG255C-NA and RM255C-GL modules represent a strategic move into this fast-growing segment, delivering Sub-6 GHz 5G connectivity optimised for mid-tier IoT applications.

Read more...

---

SDRs – Which RF architecture should you choose?
RFiber Solutions Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
There are several common methods of implementing SDR architectures. This paper discusses which is best when meeting a specific need.

Read more...

---

Multi-band GNSS patch antenna
RF Design Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The Taoglas AHP2356A is a compact, high-performance active GNSS patch antenna designed for next-generation positioning systems requiring precision, reliability, and multi-constellation support.

Read more...

---

Cellular routers for explosive areas
Phoenix Contact Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Updated versions of the Cellulink outdoor cellular router product range from Phoenix Contact are now available; they have been specially developed for use in Zone 2 potentially explosive areas.

Read more...

---

Power the next wave of IoT innovation
Links Field Networks Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Links Field Networks’ portfolio includes connectivity platforms, edge devices, and network management tools designed to support secure, resilient IoT deployments across a range of use cases.

Read more...

---

Move to smart agriculture
Otto Wireless Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Designed for precision agriculture, the RAKwireless SensorHub is a modular, industrial-grade IoT platform that collects real-time environmental and soil data across farming operations.

Read more...

---

Broadband GaN amplifiers for demanding RF systems
RFiber Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
MACOM Technology Solutions has expanded its high-power RF portfolio with the MAPC-A1106-BD and MAPC-A1102-BS GaN amplifiers, designed for broadband operation in demanding CW and pulsed applications.

Read more...

---