Elon Musk revealed on Sunday that his satellite internet service, Starlink, has been granted a licence to operate in Somalia.
Starlink, which operates a network of low Earth orbit satellites, is designed to provide internet access to remote areas and regions where traditional communications infrastructure is either unavailable or has been disrupted.
According to the World Bank, only around 30 per cent of Somalia’s population had access to the internet as of 2022. Connectivity remains a major challenge in the East African country, which is plagued by poor infrastructure.
“Starlink now in Somalia!” Musk posted on X without providing further specifics.
Somalia’s state-run media outlet SONNA reported that the licence was a significant milestone for the country’s communications and technology sectors, adding that the licence was granted after two years of negotiations.
“Today is another historic day for Somalia’s communications and technology sectors. We have issued Starlink the licence to operate in Somalia,” the post read.
The announcement comes as efforts to bridge the digital divide between wealthier and less developed nations continue, with Africa facing particularly stark challenges in this area.
