Monday April 14, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is now operational in Somalia after the federal government issued a license on Sunday, capping off more than two years of negotiations with the Ministry of Telecommunications.
“We have been in talks with this company (Starlink) for a period of two and a half years. We gave them the license today,” said Mustafa Yasiin, Director of Communication at the ministry, in a video published by the state-run Somali National News Agency (SONNA).
The approval makes Somalia the latest African nation to authorize Starlink, following similar rollouts in Liberia and Niger earlier this year. The service uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet, even in regions with limited or no traditional infrastructure.
Government officials hope the arrival of Starlink will improve the quality of existing internet services while expanding access to rural and underserved areas. While Somalia already connects to several undersea fibre-optic cables, vast stretches of the country remain poorly connected, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
As of 2022, only about 30% of Somalia’s population had internet access, according to World Bank data. Officials say expanding connectivity is critical to driving digital inclusion, improving education and healthcare access, and fostering economic development.
According to SONNA, the license issuance was marked by a ceremony in Mogadishu attended by senior government figures and representatives from Starlink.
Starlink still faces regulatory challenges in some countries despite its growing footprint in Africa. South Africa, for example, banned the import of Starlink kits in 2023, effectively blocking access to the service.
Musk confirmed the Somalia launch on Sunday in a brief post on X, writing: “Starlink now in Somalia!”