The challenge
NEOM sought to assess the strategic, financial, and operational viability of entering a joint venture with ONEWEB to deploy Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity across Africa. The objective was to enable rapid, resilient broadband access in underserved markets, support NEOM’s broader digital ecosystem ambitions, and position the initiative as a scalable, high-impact connectivity platform for governments, enterprises, and communities. Given the scale and innovation of the proposed investment, a robust business case and long-term financial assessment were required to inform decision-making.
Project outline
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Developed a comprehensive demand analysis and end-to-end business case for LEO satellite connectivity across Africa and the Middle East.
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Built 10-year bottom-up demand forecasts covering satellite backhaul, enterprise customers, and government institutions.
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Produced detailed capital expenditure and operating expenditure models to assess financial viability.
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Evaluated existing and planned satellite initiatives, benchmarking technologies, use cases, and competitive positioning.
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Conducted 10-year feasibility and financial analysis, including NPV and IRR assessment for satellite connectivity investments.
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Performed sensitivity analysis across cost structures, pricing assumptions, and target market scenarios.
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Acted as a client-side advisor to NEOM in negotiations with low-earth-orbit satellite capacity providers.
Our impact
The engagement provided NEOM with a clear, evidence-based foundation to assess a major strategic investment in LEO satellite connectivity. Salience’s analysis enabled informed decision-making on a potential USD 200 million joint venture, supporting NEOM’s ambition to deliver rapid, high-speed connectivity across Africa while advancing its role as a catalyst for digital transformation, economic inclusion, and cognitive technology ecosystems in the region.
Duration of engagement: September 2021 – October 2021