African satellite engineering company Q-KON, Angolan ICT provider SISTEC and Eutelsat OneWeb have launched a local point of presence (PoP) in Luanda to support the Twoobii-OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. The deployment is designed to improve connectivity performance while allowing data traffic to terminate within Angola’s borders.
Hosted at SISTEC’s facilities, the new PoP works alongside Eutelsat OneWeb’s local satellite gateway to provide direct in-country data breakout. The service connects to SISTEC’s core network and includes local Angolan IP address allocation, service-level agreement management, network monitoring and engineering support from Eutelsat.
The infrastructure addresses a common challenge in satellite connectivity known as “traffic tromboning”, where domestic data travels through an international gateway before returning to its country of origin. Routing traffic locally can reduce unnecessary network journeys and associated latency, while helping organisations meet data-residency and regulatory requirements.
The companies are targeting sectors including financial services, government, defence and enterprise, where secure and reliable connectivity is essential. The local infrastructure may also support organisations operating in areas where terrestrial networks are limited or where alternative routes are needed to strengthen network resilience.
For African broadcasters and media organisations, the development highlights the potential role of LEO satellite services in connecting remote production facilities, supporting contribution links and providing backup connectivity for critical operations. Local routing and improved network performance could be particularly valuable for organisations handling time-sensitive media workflows or transmitting content from locations with limited fibre access.
The launch also reflects a wider shift in satellite service delivery across Africa. Rather than relying solely on satellite capacity, providers are combining orbital infrastructure with local gateways, network integration and in-country technical support to address the specific regulatory and operational requirements of individual markets.
For Angola’s media and digital sectors, the key opportunity lies in having another connectivity option that can complement terrestrial infrastructure. The extent of the benefit for broadcasters will depend on service availability, pricing, capacity and the specific network requirements of each operation.
