Paratus Eswatini’s Managing Director (MD), Ali Resting, is not just talking but also backing his words with action.
After calling for unlimited connectivity in the country, Paratus Eswatini donated four Starlink satellite internet kits to the Universal Service Access Fund, managed by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM).
The kits are part of a larger effort to make sure that even the most isolated schools can connect to the internet, giving students access to learning resources they couldn’t access before.
The announcement was made during the official launch of Paratus Eswatini, a new joint venture between Paratus Group and the local technology firm Real Image. Resting presented the kits during a symbolic handover, highlighting the alignment between the company’s mission and the national goal to bridge the digital gap.
“Connectivity is the electricity of the 21st century. Without it, there is no progress,” Resting stated. “We believe these Starlink kits will significantly help reach underserved areas of our education system.”
Paratus Group, a pan-African connectivity provider based in Namibia, is using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology, specifically Starlink, to overcome the challenges posed by Eswatini’s terrain, where deploying fiber optics is often costly and difficult. The donated kits form part of a pilot project with ESCCOM to see how this technology can support the country’s educational efforts.
Representing the regulator, Thulani Fakudze of ESCCOM thanked Paratus for its valuable contribution.
“We are grateful for this donation. It supports our goal to ensure that no learner is left behind due to a lack of internet access,” he said. “This move is a practical step towards achieving our digital inclusion goals. While contributions from operators fund the Universal Access Fund, they are often insufficient. That’s why acts of goodwill like this are so vital.”
Resting shared that the Paratus Group already manages Eduvision in Namibia, an initiative that connects over 12,000 students to the internet, and he sees similar potential in Eswatini. He encouraged government stakeholders to consider Starlink technology as a scalable, affordable solution for nationwide school connectivity.
“Most high schools in Eswatini already have ICT labs supported by partners like the EU, but these labs are often underused due to a lack of connectivity,” Resting said. “With Starlink, a school can go online within minutes—no trenching, no complicated infrastructure, just a satellite dish mounted and you’re connected.”
Resting expressed hope that the partnership with ESCCOM would lead to the broader adoption of the technology across the approximately 300 high schools in the country. The kits are expected to be deployed in schools identified by ESCCOM over the coming weeks.
ESCCOM’s Universal Service Access Fund is financed through a percentage of annual license fees paid by licensed companies under ESCCOM. The fund supports connectivity for rural communities, Tinkhundla centres, health clinics, and border posts, but its reach remains limited by the high costs of traditional infrastructure.
“We must stop using curriculum readiness as a reason to delay school connectivity,” Resting emphasized. “Something has to start the process, and this is it.”