Pan-African telecommunications network services provider Paratus Group has announced the launch of “Paratus 500” — a significant milestone following the Group’s expansion into seven additional African markets earlier this year, including Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Paratus is now licensed to operate in 15 African countries, making it one of the first pan-African telcos to serve over 500 million people south of the equator, which accounts for more than one-third of Africa’s population and GDP.
The company stated in a press release that Paratus 500 uniquely links its 15 licensed operations through a contiguous telecom network. This infrastructure spans diverse terrestrial fiber routes, significant subsea cable landings, and cutting-edge satellite integration, including Starlink, to ensure secure, scalable, and high-quality connectivity throughout sub-equatorial Africa.
“Reflecting years of ongoing investment in infrastructure, local subsidiaries, and strategic partnerships, Paratus 500 features the East West Connect route, which runs from the east coast of Africa in Maputo, through Johannesburg, across Botswana and Namibia, to the west coast of Africa at the Equiano Cable Landing Station in Swakopmund. The Group operates five satellite teleports and maintains nearly 10,000 active satellite services, providing reliable service across all markets.”
Strategic routes include connections from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi in southern DRC, passing through Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. In Botswana, Paratus has deployed a diverse fiber network in multiple towns, strengthening national coverage and cross-border stability.
The company also emphasizes that subsea cable systems are essential to the Paratus 500 ecosystem, with international landing points in Angola (Luanda), DRC (Kinshasa), France (Marseilles), Kenya (Nairobi), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Mozambique (Maputo), Namibia (Windhoek), South Africa (Pretoria), and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), providing direct access to global internet hubs. Paratus connects across the Atlantic to Brazil (Fortaleza), the United States (Miami and New York), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), and the UK (London).
The Paratus Express Route, powered by the Equiano subsea cable, offers the lowest latency international connectivity from Johannesburg and Namibia to Europe and the US, with capacity up to 20 times greater than earlier West Coast cables.
Further strengthening its regional coverage, Paratus has integrated LEO (low earth orbit) satellite services into its offerings. This technology improves coverage and provides consistent connectivity in underserved and remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or unavailable.
Schalk Erasmus, CEO of Paratus Group, said, “With Paratus 500, we now have the most coverage under license in sub-equatorial Africa, a goal we have pursued for many years. This milestone allows us to connect people and businesses across the region with reliable, high-quality network services. Our ongoing investment in fiber, satellite, and strategic partnerships enables us to deliver scalable connectivity solutions to wholesale, enterprise, and individual customers – providing the freedom to connect anywhere, anytime.”
Erasmus added that Paratus 500 is the result of sustained investment in robust infrastructure, local operations, and strategic partnerships across the region. This foundation supports seamless connectivity solutions utilizing fiber, satellite, microwave, SD-WAN, and MPLS technologies. Through this diversified network, Paratus offers a resilient, scalable, and customer-focused platform designed to foster growth and opportunity throughout the region.
Paratus Group operates in 15 African countries, employing approximately 800 people, and extends its presence beyond Africa to international points of presence (PoPs) in Europe, the UK, and the US.