Starlink’s high-speed internet has officially gone live in Somalia, marking the company’s entry into its 25th African market.
The National Communications Authority NCA approved Starlink’s operational licence in April 2025, paving the way for its launch.
Government officials have welcomed the development as a key step towards narrowing the country’s digital divide, as it aligns with the focus areas of the Somali National ICT Policy and Strategy 2019–2024, including the establishment of domestic digital infrastructure and facilitating access.
The deployment of Starlink in Somalia follows its recent launches in Chad and Lesotho earlier this year, where the company encountered comparatively fewer entry barriers than in South Africa.
In contrast, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ICASA enforces the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework, which requires telecommunications operators to ensure that historically disadvantaged South Africans own at least 30% of their shares.
This requirement conflicts with Starlink’s global operating model, which is based on full ownership of its subsidiaries.
In a strategic bid to secure its licensing, Starlink has pledged to invest ZAR 2 billion USD 113 million in South Africa, encompassing the development of numerous data centres and a commitment to provide free broadband internet to 500 schools through an additional USD 27.9 million initiative.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/08/05/starlinks-high-speed-internet-goes-live-in-somalia/