Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by a unit of SpaceX, has received approval to begin operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a policy reversal lifting an earlier ban.
According to Reuters, the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority announced recently that Starlink had been granted a license and is expected to roll out services in the coming days. This comes after the same authority issued a directive in March 2024 prohibiting the use of the service, citing concerns from military experts who warned it could be misused by armed groups. These concerns were tied to the M23, an insurgent group that has widened its presence in eastern Congo over the past year.
Congo has some of the lowest internet penetration rates on the continent, with only about 30% of the population online as of 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union. Infrastructure limitations and ongoing conflict have made it difficult to expand terrestrial internet networks, especially in remote and rural areas. Satellite-based services like Starlink could help close some of these gaps, offering a potential alternative in areas where fiber or mobile broadband remains unavailable.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed Starlink’s availability in Congo in a post on X on Sunday. The country joins a growing list of African nations adopting the service. In April, Somalia and Lesotho granted Starlink operating licenses, bringing the total number of countries on the continent with active or planned Starlink service to 20.
Neighboring Uganda is also in talks with the company. President Yoweri Museveni recently met with Starlink reps and expressed his appreciation for their interest in providing internet access to underserved regions. Many Ugandan consumers have long raised concerns over the cost and reliability of existing internet services, which some attribute to limited market competition.
The regulatory response to Starlink’s expansion has varied across Africa. In Nigeria and Rwanda, the service was introduced without major public resistance. However, in South Africa, Starlink has faced delays due to equity rules requiring a portion of ownership to be allocated to Black South Africans. These licensing requirements have sparked public criticism from Elon Musk, postponing the service’s launch in the country. These differing approaches reflect broader regulatory dynamics across the continent, as governments seek to combine technology adoption with local policy interests.
Starlink, which has launched over 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit since 2019, is one of numerous players competing to increase satellite-based internet access around the world. Amazon just entered the market with its Project Kuiper project, which will launch its first batch of low-orbit satellites in April 2025. The company intends to deploy over 1,600 satellites by mid-2026 to deliver broadband internet services, including in emerging markets. Other companies, such as OneWeb, are also establishing partnerships in Africa to deliver connectivity through low Earth orbit satellite networks.
With several providers aiming to fill infrastructure gaps, satellite internet is emerging as a critical piece of the connectivity puzzle in Africa. For countries like the DRC, where traditional broadband expansion remains slow and difficult, satellite services offer an alternative route to wider digital access—though affordability, regulatory oversight, and security concerns continue to shape the pace of adoption.
Key Points
- Starlink has been granted a license to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a previous ban.
- The approval aims to address low internet penetration rates in the DRC, which currently stands at about 30%.
- Increased access to satellite-based services may help bridge internet gaps in remote and rural areas.
- Starlink’s expansion reflects varied regulatory responses across Africa, with neighbouring countries like Uganda also engaging the service.
- Starlink competes with other satellite internet projects like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, aimed at improving global connectivity.
Why should I read this?
If you’ve ever wondered how satellite internet could shake up connectivity in Africa, this article is a must-read! It highlights Starlink’s significant move into the DRC, showcasing both the challenges and promises of getting the continent online. It’s all about transforming lives through tech, and you wouldn’t want to miss how this could change the game for internet access in underserved areas.