Putting a satellite into space is only half the story. The real power may lie in what happens to the data after it gets there.
Satellites can collect valuable information about Africa’s farms, forests, oceans, cities, weather and natural resources. But building and launching them is expensive, and many African countries rely on foreign governments, investors and companies to make it possible.
That raises a bigger question: if others help pay for Africa’s satellites, does Africa still control the data they collect?
China, for example, has helped countries such as Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia build and launch satellites. Other African countries have worked with partners from Europe and Russia. Private companies are also becoming important. Starlink, for example, is expanding satellite internet services across Africa.
These partnerships have helped Africa move faster.
Countries that might have waited many years to develop their own space programmes have been able to get satellites into orbit much sooner.
But there is an important question:
If another country or company helps build, launch or operate your satellite, who owns the information that satellite collects?
Think about what a satellite can see.
It can collect information about farms, forests, cities, roads, coastlines, water and even mineral-rich areas.
That information can be very valuable.
So, who decides how it is used? Can it be sold? Can it be shared with another country or company? Can the African country that paid for the satellite access all of its own data?
These are not just technical questions.
They are questions about control and independence.
Agenda 2063 calls for an Africa that is more self-reliant and less dependent on others. That means Africa must also think about who controls its space technology and the data produced by it.
One possible solution is for African countries to work together.
Instead of every country depending on a different foreign partner, African countries could share satellites, ground stations, technology, skills and data.
The African Space Agency is expected to help make this kind of cooperation possible.
But money remains a big challenge.
The real question is whether Africa can build enough financial and technical strength to have greater control over its own space infrastructure.
This gives ACALAN Publications an important story to follow:
Who is paying for Africa’s satellites? Who owns the data? And who benefits from it?
Because getting a satellite into space is only half the journey.
The bigger question is who controls what comes back down.