Unlocking growth in the SADC: Harnessing the potential of non-geostationary satellite orbit systems

Key findings from the report:

• USD 16.9 billion in annual economic benefits can be unlocked through improved Internet coverage and usage, equivalent to 2% of SADC’s GDP.
  • USD 3.0 billion from expanding internet coverage
  • USD 13.9 billion from promoting internet usage
• At least USD 10.3 billion in cost savings for backhaul infrastructure from deploying NGSO systems to complement terrestrial infrastructure, equivalent to 7.6% of total fibre-to-the-X (FTTx) deployment costs.
• New growth frontiers and opportunities unlocked by NGSO systems include:
  • USD 5.4 billion potential cost savings from enabling the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for improved vehicle and cargo tracking and real-time monitoring supported by levers to drive adoption.
  • USD 1.2 billion saved by mitigating the impact of natural disasters through deploying a more expansive network of early warning systems and real-time tracking of natural disasters.
  • USD 180 million in potential new economic activity from deployment of IoT-enabled environmental monitoring services to support oversight of natural resources and green financing initiatives.