Team Europe provides nearly 60 million for digital connectivity in rural Central Asia

A 34.4 million EU grant and a 25.45 million EIB Global loan will support access to broadband services through satellite connectivity in approximately 1 600 villages in Central Asia

Financial package will enable the deployment of satellite terminal antennas connected to SES' medium earth orbit satellite network

Team Europe consists of the European Union, EU Member States - including their implementing agencies and public development banks - as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Team Europe's initiative aims to empower approximately three million people in remote areas by providing fast and reliable internet access

Luxembourg, 19 March 2028 -- EIB Global - the European Investment Bank's global arm - and the European Commission have signed a financial package worth almost 60 million with SES, a Europe-based provider of satellite-enabled content and connectivity solutions. This initiative aims to deliver satellite connectivity to remote rural areas in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Nearly half of the population in Central Asia does not have access to the internet. The project aims to reduce this figure by bringing broadband internet services to approximately 1 600 underserved villages across rural areas in the region. These communities currently have no access to broadband services, leaving millions without connection to the digital world. Through satellite technology, high-speed internet can be deployed in these remote areas, transforming the lives of an estimated three million people. This initiative will help to bridge the digital gap and also support Central Asia's broader transition to a digital economy.

Beyond simply connecting people, connectivity infrastructures are pathways to education, healthcare and economic opportunities. This initiative is helping to address the digital divide and promoting global connectivity, which is a priority for EIB Global. This is an excellent example of cooperation under Team Europe for digital inclusion and human empowerment, and will also provide the European Union's partners in Central Asia with know-how and expertise on secure and trusted digital connections, said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris, who oversees the Banks operations in Central Asia.

This project is fully aligned with the European Union's Global Gateway initiative, which promotes investment in secure and sustainable infrastructure to connect people and improve lives across the world. It serves as a key driver of the Team Europe initiative for digital connectivity in Central Asia.

LINK:	https://www.ses.com/press-release/team-europe-provides-nearly-eu60-mil...
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