In a significant development, six nations within the East African Community have approved a landmark satellite communication initiative aimed at reducing their reliance on foreign service providers. This decision came during the Northern Corridor Integration Project (NCIP) meeting held in Nairobi, involving Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The initiative, known as the Regional Communication & Broadcasting Satellite Initiative, seeks to deliver affordable broadband and broadcasting solutions to consumers throughout the region. It received formal approval at the NCIP ICT Cluster’s Joint Ministerial Meeting in Nairobi in 2023. One of the primary goals of the initiative is to lessen dependence on international satellite companies and to address existing connectivity challenges in underserved areas.
The project’s roadmap was initially drawn up in Kampala in June 2024 and underwent a review in Juba in February 2025. However, progress faced some setbacks due to the lack of representation from the Permanent Secretaries of Kenya and Rwanda during the Juba meeting.
At the recent Nairobi meeting, aimed at finalising the NCIP report for presentation at an upcoming ministerial round table, discussions also revolved around the ICT Infrastructure Development Cluster. This initiative, led by Uganda, emphasises cross-border telecom connectivity, mobile service integration, digital public service delivery, and the One Network Area (ONA) initiative, which aims for consistent voice, data, and SMS services among member states.
Additionally, a technical working team has been established to meet weekly, tasked with refining the project’s strategy.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for ICT and National Guidance, and attended by key representatives, including Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, Thomas Gatkuoth, Undersecretary of South Sudan’s Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, and Yves Iradukunda, Permanent Secretary for ICT and Innovation from Rwanda.
