Democratic Republic of Congo Becomes Last African Country to License Starlink
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced yesterday that it has officially granted a license to Starlink, and the company will soon begin its operations.
As a SpaceX unit, the satellite internet provider is rapidly expanding its services across the continent, with a presence in over a dozen countries. Somalia and Lesotho granted licenses in April.
The DRC has low connectivity, with only 30% of the population expected to use the internet by 2030, according to the International Telecommunication Union. The government had previously opposed granting access to Starlink, with military officials warning that it could be used by rebel groups, including the M23, backed by Rwanda, which has seized more territory than ever in the eastern part of the country this year.
In March 2024, the Congolese Authority for the Regulation of Posts and Telecommunications declared that the use of Starlink was prohibited and that offenders would face sanctions. Paradoxically, the same entity announced yesterday that the company had received a license and will proceed with the launch of its services in the coming days. The signing of a peace accord between the DRC and Rwanda, under the auspices of the United States, has changed the game.
Starlink is now targeting Uganda, where the president declared last week that he had a productive meeting with its representatives.
And for Tunisia, when will it be? While we are among the African countries with the best internet coverage, Starlink would give a boost to the quality of services. Obviously, such a move is not for tomorrow, but it's worth seriously considering.
