Paratus South Africa is serving as the main partner for the Le Tour de Spirit of the Great Heart for the third consecutive year, supporting the Revived Pulse Foundation. This annual charity cycling tour starts on Thursday.
Paratus provides low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity via Eutelsat OneWeb for the six-day, 640 km route, which runs from September 17 to 22. In addition to connectivity, the company sends two of its staff members and backup transport to accompany the tour.
The event brings together cyclists, medical professionals, organizers, and support teams to raise funds and awareness about the need for vital cardiac care for residents of South Africa. The route begins in Beaufort West, the birthplace of heart transplant pioneer Christian Barnard, and travels through Merweville, Sutherland, Tankwa Karoo, and the Ceres Valley. Standard internet coverage rapidly diminishes once the tour moves outside populated areas.
This is critically important because many participants are medical specialists and healthcare workers. They are far from their workplaces, yet their professional duties do not cease. Having a working connection allows them to stay in contact with colleagues and, if necessary, with patients, as well as resolve urgent issues while hundreds of kilometers away from a consultation room.
For Paratus, the key point is that the technology remains unobtrusive. As participants move through the Karoo and Tankwa, the connection becomes a background element, allowing them to focus on the road and the purpose of their journey.
Comments from Paratus South Africa Management
Kelly Carlson, Director of Paratus South Africa, noted that the importance of having the right team and equipment to accomplish tasks is frequently discussed within the company. She emphasized that Le Tour embodies this philosophy, requiring dedicated people, proper support, and technology for the successful completion of such a journey. She expressed pride that her employees and their connectivity are part of this team, supporting Revived Pulse and the cyclists in their extraordinary challenge for a vital cause. According to her, this is what partnership looks like—showing involvement, engaging, and fulfilling one's role.
Recognition in the Le Tour Family
Faan Botha, founder of the Revived Pulse Foundation, shared that this cause is very personal to him. He recounted how he was fortunate enough to receive a donated cardiac device when he needed it, and he personally knows what that second chance means. The Revived Pulse Foundation was created to provide such a chance to people who might otherwise not have access to it, and Le Tour has become an important part of this process.
Botha added that such a journey through the Karoo and Tankwa requires reliable people. He noted that Paratus has been part of this team for the past three years. The company does not just provide connectivity; its employees go out onto the road with them, participating and helping wherever possible. As a farmer, he values people who keep their promises and deliver results. This is what he found in Paratus, and that is why he considers them part of the Le Tour family today.
More information about the Revived Pulse Foundation can be found at revivedpulse.org.
About Paratus South Africa
Paratus South Africa is part of Paratus Group, one of the largest private network service operators in Africa. As an independent last-mile service provider, Paratus South Africa has evolved into a full-cycle network aggregator and managed services partner. The company provides fiber optic, wireless, satellite, SD-WAN, and internet services to clients in both urban and remote areas. Its satellite capabilities include geostationary and LEO services from Eutelsat OneWeb, designed to cover gaps left by terrestrial networks. Behind these services is the Goedehoop Teleport in Doornklip, Pretoria, which is a carrier-neutral facility and is part of the portfolio of Paratus South Africa's satellite services and digital infrastructure. Thanks to the support of Paratus Group's African network and infrastructure presence, the company builds its offering around accessibility and resilience.