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Revolutionizing Governance with Satellite and Digital Cadastral Solutions
Digital Telecom, a subsidiary of Digital Afrique Telecom (DAT), has announced a strategic partnership with Estonia’s leading geospatial technology company, Datel, to deploy advanced satellite monitoring and digital cadastral systems across Africa.
The collaboration targets three key areas—modernizing land administration, detecting illegal constructions, and monitoring illegal mining—with the goal of helping African governments boost revenues, enforce regulations, and drive sustainable development.
Bringing Estonia’s Digital Leadership to Africa
Building on Estonia’s global reputation as the world’s most advanced digital nation, this partnership combines decades of expertise in e-governance, geospatial technologies, and secure data infrastructure.
The initiative aims to empower African authorities with data-driven tools for transparent and efficient governance, enabling them to adopt future-ready digital systems that enhance service delivery, accountability, and public trust.
“By partnering with AS Datel, we are bringing world-class satellite and digital governance technologies to Africa. This is about empowering governments to protect their resources, ensure transparency, and recover revenues that can be reinvested in public services,” said Simplice Anoh, CEO of Digital Telecom.
Transforming Land Administration Through a Digital Cadastre
At the core of this collaboration is the implementation of a next-generation electronic cadastre system — a centralized, fully digital platform that integrates:
- Editable cadastral maps
- Automated land tax modules
- Address enforcement tools
- Connections to secure national data exchange systems
This innovation allows local and national governments to maintain accurate property records, simplify tax collection, and enhance transparency for citizens and investors alike.
Satellite Technology to Detect Illegal Constructions
One of the partnership’s flagship solutions leverages high-resolution satellite imagery to identify undeclared and mis-declared constructions by cross-referencing municipal building permit databases.
The approach has proven successful in other regions — for instance, Spain’s Algete municipality uncovered over 300 undeclared buildings, 300 mis-declared structures, and 150 unregistered pools, significantly increasing property tax revenue.
African authorities will gain access to interactive maps, automated reports, and built-in communication tools that help streamline enforcement and ensure fair and transparent taxation.
Combating Illegal Mining with Real-Time Satellite Insights
A third key component of the collaboration focuses on monitoring and detecting illegal mining operations. By integrating satellite imagery with official mining registry data, Datel’s technology can pinpoint unlicensed mining sites, allowing governments to:
- Reclaim lost revenues
- Enforce environmental and mining regulations
- Plan for land restoration and sustainability
This capability supports economic growth while protecting Africa’s natural and ecological assets.
“Our work with Digital Telecom brings the e-Estonia spirit to Africa—helping governments use satellite data and digital systems to unlock fair growth, improve efficiency, and protect their environment,” said Urmas Kõlli, CEO of AS Datel.
A New Era for Digital Governance in Africa
Through this partnership, Digital Telecom and AS Datel are setting a new benchmark for digital governance and sustainable resource management in Africa. The collaboration promises to unlock untapped revenue potential, enhance tax compliance, and promote accountable, data-driven decision-making across the continent.
