Starlink, the satellite internet service by SpaceX, has officially commenced operations in Sierra Leone, marking a significant milestone as the country becomes the 100th nation worldwide to gain access to Starlink’s connectivity. This achievement also places Sierra Leone as the 10th African nation to welcome the service, highlighting Starlink’s expanding footprint on the continent.
The introduction of Starlink in Sierra Leone comes after a series of regulatory changes across Africa, where countries like Ghana and Botswana have recently overturned previous restrictions, awarding operational licenses to the company. Sierra Leone itself granted Starlink an operational license in June 2023, signaling a positive step towards improving the country’s digital infrastructure.
David Moinina Sengeh, who serves as both the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Chief Innovation Officer of Sierra Leone, took to social media to share the news in June 2023. He expressed his enthusiasm by stating that Sierra Leone was the fifth African country to issue a license to Starlink, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to embracing technological advancements.
In May 2024, Sengeh, who also holds the position of Chief Minister of the government and is a former education minister, revealed that he had engaged in discussions with senior representatives from Starlink and SpaceX in Texas. This meeting, which was also attended by another minister and the Director General of Sierra Leone’s National Communications Authority (NaTCA) via remote connection, proved to be a precursor to the service’s activation in the country just one month later.
Sengeh reflected on the significance of this development, noting that his transition from the private sector and technology industry to a government role was motivated by the desire to facilitate transformative moments such as the launch of Starlink in Sierra Leone. He celebrated the fruition of efforts that began a year prior with the initial engagement with Starlink, leading up to the service going live.
Starlink’s arrival in Sierra Leone is particularly noteworthy given the country’s Internet penetration rates. In 2020, only 18% of the population had access to the Internet. This figure experienced a modest increase to 21% by the beginning of 2023. With the introduction of Starlink’s high-speed Internet connectivity, projections suggest that the penetration rate could surge to 40.41% in 2024, potentially revolutionizing the digital landscape and accessibility for the people of Sierra Leone.
Several African nations have recently shifted their stance on Starlink, the satellite Internet service by SpaceX, transitioning from initial prohibitions to granting the service operational licenses. This change reflects a broader acceptance and regulatory adaptation to new satellite-based communication technologies across the continent.
In Ghana, the National Communications Authority (NCA) gave its approval for Starlink to commence operations in April 2024. This decision came as a notable reversal, considering that just four months prior, the NCA had deemed Starlink’s operations illegal. The approval was granted after the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation endorsed Ghana’s Satellite Licensing Framework, a policy designed to regulate satellite communication services within the country. The framework’s approval paved the way for Starlink to legally provide its services to Ghanaians, aligning with the nation’s digitalisation efforts.
Similarly, in May 2024, the Zimbabwean government signaled its approval for Starlink through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). This authorization marked a significant step for Starlink in expanding its reach within the country, providing an alternative high-speed Internet service to the Zimbabwean populace.
Botswana also joined the list of African countries granting operational licenses to Starlink. The initial application by Starlink had been rejected nearly four months earlier due to incomplete submission of the required information. However, upon fulfilling the necessary criteria, Botswana’s regulatory authorities reconsidered and subsequently issued a license to Starlink, allowing the company to operate within its borders.
These developments indicate a growing recognition of the potential benefits that Starlink’s advanced satellite Internet technology can bring to the continent. By obtaining operational licenses in countries like Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, Starlink is set to enhance Internet connectivity, which is crucial for economic growth, education, healthcare, and various other sectors in these nations.
