Somalia has officially welcomed Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service into the country, marking a major milestone for the nation’s digital infrastructure. The long-awaited move was announced on Sunday after the Somali government granted Starlink an operational license following more than two years of dialogue.
“Starlink now in Somalia!” Musk proclaimed in a brief but impactful post on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The message confirmed what Somalia’s Ministry of Telecommunications later elaborated upon in greater detail: the East African nation has formally approved Starlink to begin operations, raising hopes for expanded connectivity and improved service quality.
The announcement was further solidified in a video posted by Somalia’s state news agency, SONNA, in which Mustafa Yasiin, Director of Communication in the telecommunications ministry, shared that the licensing process had taken two and a half years of ongoing talks. “We gave them the license today,” Yasiin said. “We hope Starlink will increase the quality of the existing internet in Somalia and will make the internet service reach more remote areas.”
Starlink, operated by Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, uses a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide broadband internet access, especially in areas where conventional infrastructure is poor or non-existent. The technology is designed to leap over the physical barriers that hinder traditional connectivity, making it an ideal solution for countries like Somalia, where vast rural areas remain offline.
According to World Bank data from 2022, only about 30% of Somalia’s population had access to the internet. Even among that minority, consistent connectivity has been hampered by fragile infrastructure and a lack of reliable service providers. This makes Starlink’s entry into the Somali market not just timely, but potentially transformative.
The Somali government has celebrated the development as a historic moment for its communications and technology sectors. A statement released by SONNA emphasized the significance: “Today is another historic day for Somalia’s communications and technology sectors. We have issued Starlink, one of the major satellite telecommunications and internet services companies, the license to operate in Somalia.”
This development carries wider implications beyond Somalia’s borders. It highlights the ongoing effort to close the digital divide between developed nations and underserved regions—particularly in Africa, where a substantial portion of the population still lacks access to reliable internet.
While much work remains to be done in strengthening the country’s digital economy, the arrival of Starlink represents a step in the right direction. Not only does it promise better internet speeds and broader coverage, especially in rural and underserved areas, but it also signals growing global confidence in Somalia’s potential as a technology-driven nation.
With Starlink now on the ground, Somalia is better positioned to support education, remote work, health services, and commerce—fields where dependable internet is a prerequisite for progress. As deployment begins, all eyes will be on how this satellite-powered solution reshapes the nation’s connectivity landscape
