RASCOM advances African satellite spectrum governance with new partnership in Doha

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation (RASCOM) has taken a major step toward strengthening Africa’s satellite monitoring and governance capabilities following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kratos Communications and Liviasoft during the Kratos and Liviasoft Satellite Monitoring Forum held in Doha, Qatar.

The high-level forum brought together industry leaders and government representatives from across Africa, including Dr. Bobga Danjuma, CEO of Liviasoft; Bruno Dupas, Senior Vice President for BD/Sales EMEA at Kratos Communications; Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, Executive Secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA); and Suleman Salifu, Deputy Director General (Technical Operations) at Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA).

The event featured the Kratos Advanced Space Radio Monitoring System (ASRMS), a cutting-edge platform designed for spectrum management, interference detection, and satellite geolocation. The demonstration showcased how advanced monitoring systems can help African countries protect their orbital resources and ensure efficient use of satellite frequencies.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, RASCOM Director General, Timothy Ashong emphasized the importance of collaboration in securing Africa’s space assets, stating, “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our efforts to build an African Satellite Spectrum Monitoring Network. It reinforces our collective commitment to safeguard Africa’s orbital resources and strengthen our regional space sovereignty.”

The MoU establishes a framework for technical and institutional cooperation among the three partners to explore the development of a continent-wide satellite spectrum monitoring infrastructure. This initiative is expected to enhance spectrum governance, improve space security, and promote more coordinated management of satellite resources across Africa.

Mr. Ashong reaffirmed RASCOM’s dedication to working with both regional and global partners to advance Africa’s space agenda, noting that improved monitoring systems are key to ensuring fair access, operational integrity, and long-term sustainability in the continent’s satellite communications sector.

The partnership aligns with RASCOM’s broader mission to foster connectivity, cooperation, and capacity building among African nations as the continent takes bold steps toward digital transformation and autonomous space governance.