ABU DHABI — Emirati artificial intelligence powered SpaceTech leader Space42, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, has officially introduced an advertising funded public Wi Fi hotspot solution across South Africa powered by YahClick, its established satellite broadband platform. Engineered to narrow the regional digital divide through a commercially self sustaining framework, the service gives local enterprises and network partners a direct financial incentive to deploy free community internet access across underserved locations. Under the ad supported model, end users unlock 20 minutes of complimentary broadband access after viewing a 30 second video advertisement, with the ability to repeat the process continuously to remain online.
Elmuiz Saad, Senior Vice President of Commercial at Space42, stated that the new Wi Fi hotspot solution directly supports South Africa’s national digital inclusion priorities. Saad noted that anchored in Space42’s corporate strategy to establish global leadership in Non Terrestrial Networks (NTN), the company continues to expand its commercial footprint in South Africa built upon YahClick and the recent rollout of Thuraya 4, collaborating closely with domestic operators and local channel partners to identify connectivity gaps and deploy infrastructure on the ground.
The platform establishes a dual revenue and engagement ecosystem for local infrastructure hosts and commercial brands as internet advertising expenditure across Africa is projected to reach $3.1 billion (R55.7 billion) by 2030. Both new and existing network partners can deploy satellite antennas and local routers connected to the YahClick orbital footprint to broadcast public Wi Fi in areas lacking terrestrial broadband, generating recurring revenue while monitoring hotspot traffic through integrated analytics dashboards. Operators already running compatible hardware can layer the advertising monetization and reporting software directly onto their existing equipment without replacing physical infrastructure, while advertisers gain measurable reach and verified engagement data across newly connected audiences.
The South African hotspot rollout builds upon Space42’s multi vertical expansion across the African continent spanning satellite communications, rural broadband, high altitude connectivity, and geospatial intelligence. Within South Africa, Space42 subsidiary Thuraya initiated the commercial rollout of Thuraya 4 satellite services in November 2025 to serve mission critical energy, mining, and maritime operations. Across wider continental markets, Space42 has already connected more than 1,000 schools and 500 medical clinics in Zimbabwe, with deployments scheduled for an additional 2,500 schools, while its subsidiary Mira Aerospace executed the world’s first 5G video call transmitted from a fixed wing High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) in Rwanda. Concurrently, through the Map Africa Initiative, Space42 is collaborating with Microsoft and Esri to construct a high resolution foundational base map spanning all 54 African nations utilizing satellite imagery and artificial intelligence analytics to advance urban planning, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
