By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Senegalese Agency for
Space Studies (ASES) and French technology company LEOBLUE have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop satellite and stratospheric
balloon-based systems capable of delivering early warnings and real-time
information directly to smartphones and connected devices without relying on
terrestrial infrastructure.
The agreement was signed
during the International Space Summit held in Paris on September 9 and 10,
2026.
The partnership will explore
the use of stratospheric balloons and satellites combined with LEOBLUE’s
Bluetooth technology to broadcast critical information directly to populations
and connected objects.
The proposed systems are
intended to provide a communications channel that can operate independently of
conventional terrestrial infrastructure, potentially supporting early warning
and information dissemination in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable
or disrupted.
The agreement brings
together Senegal’s growing space capabilities and LEOBLUE’s technology in an
effort to develop practical space-enabled services with applications in public
safety, emergency communication and access to critical information.
LEOBLUE said the partnership
represents an important milestone in its cooperation with Senegal and thanked
the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies and its Director General, Maram Kaire,
for supporting the initiative.
The signing took place
during an international gathering of African space agency leaders organised by
MEDEF International, providing an opportunity for African space institutions
and private-sector technology companies to explore new areas of cooperation.
