LAGOS, Nigeria — Canadian telecommunications company NuRAN Wireless is set to pilot Starlink low Earth orbit satellite connectivity at a rural telecommunications site in Nigeria as it explores new ways to improve internet capacity in underserved areas.

The pilot will be carried out with its long-term partner Infratel and will test whether LEO satellite technology can provide reliable, high-capacity backhaul for remote telecom sites.

NuRAN said the satellite service will be obtained through third-party providers and stressed that it has no direct commercial or contractual relationship with Starlink or its parent company, SpaceX, for the project.

The trial will be the company’s first integration of LEO connectivity into its network. It will assess performance, reliability, network integration and costs, with a particular focus on supporting the transition of rural sites to 4G.

NuRAN said satellite backhaul could also support services including edge computing, artificial intelligence applications and energy management at remote sites where conventional connectivity is difficult or expensive to deploy.

The company will continue using terrestrial options such as microwave links and TV white space where they are practical. However, it said LEO satellite service could provide another option in locations where terrestrial backhaul is unavailable or constrained.

If the Nigerian pilot proves successful, NuRAN said the model could potentially be extended to other African markets where Starlink services are licensed and available through third-party providers. These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, while Cameroon is still working through the licensing process.

Infratel Managing Director Tunji Alabi said the pilot would allow the companies to evaluate LEO satellite connectivity within live commercial networks and assess its potential to expand reliable, higher-capacity services to underserved communities.

NuRAN CEO Francis Létourneau said the company views satellite connectivity as an opportunity to strengthen its rural infrastructure as it expands 4G migration and other technology-driven services.

The pilot comes as satellite connectivity becomes an increasingly important option for reaching communities where traditional telecommunications infrastructure remains difficult or costly to deploy.

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