Paratus
Pan-African telecommunications and infrastructure provider operating licensed networks across 16 countries south of the equator, delivering carrier services, multi-orbit satellite, Tier III data centers, and enterprise and consumer connectivity to businesses, carriers, ISPs, governments, and households.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersWindhoek, Namibia
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Paratus does
Paratus Group is a pan-African telecommunications and infrastructure provider operating licensed networks across 16 countries south of the equator, with its headquarters in Windhoek, Namibia and a primary listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) under ticker PNH (Paratus Namibia Holdings Ltd). Founded in 2005 and operating with 1,001–5,000 employees, the company delivers connectivity, carrier, satellite, and data center services to enterprise customers, other carriers and ISPs, resource-extraction majors, governments, and consumer/SMB segments in select markets (Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique).
The company's owned infrastructure stack comprises the 1,890 km Paratus Express Route (Johannesburg–Botswana–Swakopmund) achieving 123 ms latency to Europe via the Equiano sub-sea cable, the East-West Connect terrestrial corridor (Maputo–Swakopmund), the 840 km Botswana Kalahari Fiber (14 Tbps capacity), the newly activated 2,000 km G2M East African fiber route (Mombasa–Goma), the Plumtree–Bulawayo cross-border fiber (Zimbabwe, with Powertel), Equiano sub-sea cable landing-partner rights in Namibia, five Tier III-by-design data centers across Angola (two), Namibia (Armada), and Zambia, and 5+ owned teleports delivering multi-orbit satellite services (Starlink, OneWeb, and GEO platforms) to 5,000+ customer sites.
Paratus generates revenue primarily through recurring subscription contracts: enterprise connectivity (fiber, MPLS, SD-WAN, dedicated internet, microwave), carrier/wholesale bandwidth and IP transit, satellite resale and managed services, Tier III colocation and interconnection, and consumer mobile/fiber/wireless services in Namibia and Botswana. Pricing is largely quote-based for enterprise and wholesale customers, with publicly available tiered consumer plans in Namibia. GTM combines country-based direct enterprise sales teams across all 16 operating countries with authorized-reseller distribution for LEO satellite services and channel/carrier partnerships for wholesale capacity.
Paratus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paratus
- Legal name
- Paratus Namibia Holdings Ltd
- Website
- https://paratus.africa
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Pan-African telecommunications and infrastructure provider operating licensed networks across 16 countries south of the equator, delivering carrier services, multi-orbit satellite, Tier III data centers, and enterprise and consumer connectivity to businesses, carriers, ISPs, governments, and households.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paratus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pan-African Telecommunications Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IP Transit & Internet Backbone (Tier-1/2, peering, DIA) (HDAIAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite Wholesale Capacity & Backhaul (transponder/HTS capacity, teleport services) (HDAIAEAJ), Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI), Satellite Broadband Internet Access (Consumer/SMB) (HDAIAJAA), Subsea Capacity Wholesale (IRUs, leased capacity, backhaul to landing stations) (HDAIAEAI), Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI)
Keywords
Where Paratus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Windhoek
- HQ country
- Namibia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices14 records
Markets served
Paratus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Enterprise Connectivity Services: Provides fiber, microwave, VSAT, SD-WAN, MPLS, and dedicated internet access to enterprise customers. Revenue generated through recurring service contracts with SLA guarantees.
- Carrier/Wholesale Services: Wholesale bandwidth and capacity services to other carriers, ISPs, and network operators across the pan-African network. Includes IP transit, peering, and cross-border connectivity.
- Satellite Services: Resells and manages satellite connectivity including Starlink and OneWeb services. Includes professional installation and 24/7 support.
- Data Center Services: Colocation, interconnection, cloud connectivity, and disaster recovery services. Revenue from recurring colocation fees and增值服务.
- Consumer Internet Services: Fiber and wireless internet services for consumers and homes in select markets (Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique). Includes mobile plans and device sales in Namibia.
- Sub-sea Cable Services: Equiano sub-sea cable landing partner in Namibia, providing international connectivity services. Revenue from capacity sales and wholesale access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Enterprise connectivity services - customized quotes based on requirements |
| Subscription | Monthly | OneWeb LEO Satellite - up to 195 Mbps download, 32 Mbps upload |
| Subscription | Monthly | Starlink Business Priority Data - 40-220 Mbps download, 8-25 Mbps upload |
| Subscription | Monthly | Namibia consumer mobile plans - Pre-Paid, Month-to-Month, Post-Paid |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Paratus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paratus operates owned pan-African telecommunications infrastructure providing carrier-grade fiber, multi-orbit satellite (Starlink, OneWeb, GEO), Tier III data center, and enterprise connectivity services across 16 countries south of the equator. The company sells wholesale IP transit, cross-border connectivity, colocation, managed satellite capacity, MPLS, and SD-WAN to carriers and enterprises, with selected consumer fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile offerings in Namibia and Botswana.
Product overview
Paratus is a pan-African telecommunications group offering a diversified portfolio of connectivity and infrastructure services across sub-equatorial Africa. The portfolio spans five core service lines: (1) Carrier Services — including the Equiano Sub-sea Cable (as landing partner in Namibia), the Paratus Express Route (ultra-low latency 123ms Johannesburg-to-Europe DWDM fiber), East-West Connect (Maputo-to-Swakopmund terrestrial route), and the Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) project — providing IP transit, peering, and cross-border connectivity for carriers, ISPs, and global partners; (2) Satellite Services — combining owned On-Net Teleport infrastructure (KU/C Band with iDirect modems), OneWeb LEO resale (up to 195 Mbps, <70ms latency), and Starlink resale (40–220 Mbps Priority Data) across 16 African countries with 24/7 managed support; (3) Data Center Services — three Tier III (by design) facilities in Angola (two sites: 1,500+ and 7,000+ server capacity), Namibia (Armada Data Center with 2MVA power, co-location), and Zambia (1MW power, 120 cabinets, PCI DSS/ISO 9001/ISO 27001 certified) offering colocation, interconnection, cloud connectivity, and disaster recovery; (4) Business and Consumer Connectivity — including MPLS, SD-WAN, dedicated internet access, fixed wireless (SKY-Fi), consumer fiber and mobile plans (Namibia), and voice/PBX/cloud/hosting solutions across country operations; and (5) Paratus Essential Access — a priority connectivity product launched in April 2026 for communities and emergency services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Paratus Essential Access: Priority connectivity service for communities and emergency services across Africa
- Parati Internet
- Net-Top Internet
- Armada Data Center
- SKY-Fi Home
- Botswana Kalahari Fiber
Products and services
- Data Center Services Carrier-neutral Tier III (by design) data center facilities operating in Angola (two sites with 1,500+ and 7,000+ server capacity), Namibia (Armada Data Center), and Zambia (1MW power, 120 cabinets) offering colocation, interconnection, cloud connectivity, and disaster recovery services for enterprises, carriers, and service providers.
- Satellite Services Multi-orbit satellite connectivity combining owned On-Net Teleport infrastructure (KU and C Band, iDirect modems) with authorized reselling of Starlink LEO (40-220 Mbps Priority Data) and OneWeb LEO (up to 195 Mbps, latency under 70 ms) services across sub-equatorial Africa, with professional installation and 24/7 support.
- Carrier Services Resilient and high-performance carrier routes across sub-equatorial Africa including the Equiano sub-sea cable landing partnership in Namibia, the Paratus Express Route (123 ms JHB-Europe, 1,890 km via Botswana and Swakopmund), East-West Connect (Maputo to Swakopmund), the Botswana Kalahari Fiber (840 km, 14 Tbps), and the G2M East African fiber route (Mombasa to Goma, 2,000 km), providing IP transit, peering, and cross-border connectivity for carriers, ISPs, and global partners.
- Paratus Essential Access Priority connectivity service delivering connectivity to communities and emergency services across Africa, supporting critical infrastructure and essential services in underserved areas.
- Mobile Plans (Pre-Paid, Month-to-Month, Post-Paid) Mobile cellular service offering in Namibia with Pre-Paid, Month-to-Month, and Post-Paid (Contract) plan options, physical and eSIM support, and VoLTE device compatibility for individual consumers.
- Home Internet (Fiber and SKY-Fi Wireless) Home internet solutions in Namibia offering fiber connectivity and SKY-Fi fixed wireless broadband with coverage check tools for Mobile LTE and Fiber, targeting residential customers.
- Consumer Fiber Internet (Botswana) Lightning-fast, dependable fiber internet connectivity for homes in Botswana, delivering high-speed connectivity to residential customers.
- SKY-Fi Home (Botswana) Constant, fast, and uncapped fixed wireless internet for homes in Botswana, providing reliable connectivity for residential customers in areas where fiber is not available.
- IP Transit Service (DRC) Carrier-grade IP transit solution for operators, ISPs, and other carriers operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing high-performance connectivity, seamless integration, and optimized data transmission capabilities via the FAST Congo Paratus DRC joint venture.
- Satellite Backhaul Services LEO satellite backhaul integration for mobile network operators across Africa, enabling expansion of cellular connectivity in rural and remote areas via partnerships with satellite providers including SpaceX, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Lynk Global.
Quantifiable outcome
- Paratus Express Route achieves 123ms latency from Johannesburg to Europe, fastest fiber route
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Paratus
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Paratus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Paratus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Murang'a County GovernmentminorDigital healthcare connectivity project connecting 170 public health facilities to Starlink internet. Expected to reduce connectivity costs by 70% while enabling telemedicine and improved healthcare delivery.
- Eutelsat (OneWeb)coreMulti-year expanded partnership to deliver extended LEO connectivity services across Southern Africa. Solutions include fixed sites, comms-on-the-move, and comms-on-pause in multiple countries. Paratus is authorized reseller of OneWeb LEO services offering speeds up to 195 Mbps with latency under 70ms.
- Powertel CommunicationsmajorPublic-private partnership for cross-border fiber project connecting Zimbabwe to Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa. First phase (Plumtree-Bulawayo) now live using DWDM technology with capacities exceeding 10 Tb/s and initial equipped traffic of 800 Gb/s. Second phase connecting Bulawayo to Livingstone scheduled for September 2026.
- Starlink (SpaceX)coreParatus is authorized Starlink reseller across African markets, providing high-performance, low-latency internet via Starlink's LEO constellation. Services include Priority Data performance (40-220 Mbps download) with professional installation and 24/7 enterprise support.
- Google (Equiano Sub-sea Cable)coreLanding partner for Equiano sub-sea cable in Namibia. Cable landing points include Lisbon, Benin, Nigeria, St Helena, Namibia, and South Africa. Provides increased regional capacity and economic impact, positively impacting 31% of Africa's population.
- Santa Maria CommunityminorSocial investment partnership providing Starlink connectivity to remote coastal community in Mozambique. Initiative supports 1,500+ students, 30 educators, 3,500 residents, local businesses, and healthcare services. Expanded from initial event sponsorship.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Paratus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Pan-African operator offering fiber, satellite, data centers and cloud services across multiple African countries with its own backbone and subsea capacity. Closest direct competitor to Paratus on wholesale/carrier, data center and enterprise connectivity.
- WIOCC: Wholesale carrier providing high-capacity connectivity into, out of and across Africa via the EASSy and WACS subsea systems and terrestrial fiber. Directly comparable to Paratus's IP transit, peering and cross-border wholesale services.
- Africa Data Centres: Pan-African carrier-neutral colocation operator with Tier III facilities in multiple African countries offering colocation, interconnection and cloud on-ramps. Directly comparable to Paratus's Tier III data center business in Angola, Namibia and Zambia.
- SEACOM: Subsea cable operator serving Africa with international capacity and corporate/IP transit services. Comparable to Paratus's Equiano landing partnership and wholesale IP transit business.
- Angola Cables: Angola-headquartered subsea cable and connectivity operator with the SACS and WACS systems and interconnecting data centers. Comparable to Paratus's subsea and carrier services, particularly around Southern Africa.
- Raxio Data Centres: African carrier-neutral data center operator building and operating Tier III facilities in multiple Sub-Saharan markets. Comparable to Paratus's Tier III data center portfolio and carrier-neutral colocation positioning.
- CSquared: Wholesale-only fiber operator building metro and long-haul open-access fiber networks across Africa for carriers, ISPs and mobile operators. Directly comparable to Paratus's wholesale fiber and carrier services strategy.
Broad incumbents
- MTN GlobalConnect (Bayobab): Wholesale arm of MTN Group providing pan-African connectivity, subsea capacity and enterprise services as part of a much larger mobile operator group. Broad incumbent competitor to Paratus's wholesale and enterprise lines.
- Helios Towers: London-listed tower and passive infrastructure operator across Africa and the Middle East. Adjacent peer — comparable as a publicly listed African infrastructure platform with significant owned network footprint, though focused on towers rather than active telecom services.
Emerging players
- Bandwidth and Cloud Services Group (BCS): Pan-African wholesale carrier and managed connectivity provider focused on IP transit, MPLS and enterprise connectivity. Emerging player with overlapping focus to Paratus's carrier services and enterprise connectivity offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Paratus social profiles
Digital presenceParatus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Paratus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paratus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Paratus subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Paratus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paratus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Paratus
What does Paratus do?
Paratus operates owned pan-African telecommunications infrastructure providing carrier-grade fiber, multi-orbit satellite (Starlink, OneWeb, GEO), Tier III data center, and enterprise connectivity services across 16 countries south of the equator. The company sells wholesale IP transit, cross-border connectivity, colocation, managed satellite capacity, MPLS, and SD-WAN to carriers and enterprises, with selected consumer fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile offerings in Namibia and Botswana.
Is Paratus a public or private company?
Paratus is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Paratus founded?
Paratus was founded in 2005. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Paratus based?
Paratus is headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, in the Africa region.
How does Paratus make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Connectivity Services are the primary driver. The others are carrier/Wholesale Services, satellite Services, data Center Services, consumer Internet Services and sub-sea Cable Services.
Who are Paratus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Liquid Intelligent Technologies, WIOCC, Africa Data Centres, SEACOM, Angola Cables, Raxio Data Centres and CSquared. Broad incumbents are MTN GlobalConnect (Bayobab) and Helios Towers. Bandwidth and Cloud Services Group (BCS) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Paratus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paratus.
What industry is Paratus in?
Paratus's product category is Pan-African Telecommunications Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAEAA, IP Transit & Internet Backbone (Tier-1/2, peering, DIA), with a secondary code of HDAIAEAJ, Satellite Wholesale Capacity & Backhaul (transponder/HTS capacity, teleport services). Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3576.