The Rwanda Government is looking to tap more into the benefits of satellite technology. It is teaming up with Planet Labs as it plans to launch a new national program to provide Planet’s data to governmental agencies, public universities, selected startups, and strategic development partners supporting national development initiatives throughout the country. This deal marks Planet’s first national program of its kind in Africa. The deal was announced earlier this week.
Rwanda has a population of around 15 million people. The Rwandan government will use Planet’s growing archive of near-daily satellite data to monitor agriculture and food security, track forest health and resilience, refine urban planning and zoning, and inform disaster planning, response, and recovery. Planet imagery and data will be made available to public universities to train undergraduate students and support advanced research in Earth Observation in Rwanda.
“Rwanda is a true leader in African innovation, continually demonstrating how technology can drive national progress. This program is a blueprint for how Planet’s daily satellite data can directly support multiple national goals, including improving disaster planning, shaping education programs, protecting natural resources and more,” Andrew Zolli, Chief Impact Officer, Planet, said in a statement.
