Tuesday August 5, 2025
MOGADISHU (HOL) — Somalia has officially joined the growing list of African countries with access to Starlink’s high-speed, satellite-based internet, following the company’s announcement on Monday that the service is now live nationwide.
Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has begun operations in Somalia, following regulatory approval from the National Communications Authority in April. Within four months, the entire country, from dense cities like Mogadishu and Hargeisa to pastoral communities along the Shabelle, was marked as “available” on Starlink’s global coverage map.
Government officials say Starlink’s entry could complement, rather than replace, local providers like Hormuud Telecom, which dominate Somalia’s mobile broadband market. However, coverage gaps remain in rural areas where mobile networks are still absent.
Describing the launch as “a milestone,” Somalia’s Minister of Communications, Mohamed Adan Moalim, emphasized that it supports the goals outlined in the National ICT Policy and Strategy (2019–2024), which aims to expand digital access and strengthen domestic infrastructure.
“Bridging the digital divide is essential for fostering economic growth, improving education, and driving innovation,” said Somalia’s Ambassador to the United States, Ali Sharif Dahir, in a statement shared on social media. “Rural and coastal communities will greatly benefit from this effort.”
The infrastructure that currently underpins Somalia’s mobile networks still falters outside urban centers. Mobile internet services from providers like Hormuud or Somtel cover much of the population in major cities. But they rely on cell towers, fibre-optic cables, and political stability, which are in short supply in parts of the country. In some rural areas, there is no telecom signal at all.
Starlink sidesteps all three. Starlink delivers internet via a constellation of more than 7,600 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. These satellites orbit at roughly 550 kilometres above the Earth, far closer than the traditional 35,000-kilometre range of geostationary satellites. That proximity lowers latency and cuts out the middlemen of telecom infrastructure. In Somalia, this means Starlink can reach areas still inaccessible due to insecurity, terrain, or sheer distance.
Now, with nothing more than a clear view of the sky, a dish the size of a dinner tray, and several hundred dollars, Somalis can theoretically connect to speeds between 100 and 200 Mbps and latency between 20 and 40 milliseconds.
Starlink says it plans to extend its satellite network to over 12,000 satellites in the coming years.
Despite widespread optimism, cost remains a significant barrier. The service costs $390 for the hardware and $70 per month, a price point out of reach for most Somalis, where internet penetration hovers under 10 percent.
A more compact “mini” kit sells for $210, but even that will likely appeal only to diaspora-supported households, government offices, NGOs, and businesses operating in places where legacy providers simply don’t go.
Somalia is Starlink’s 25th African market. The service went live in Chad and Lesotho earlier this year and is already operating in more than 140 countries. Its expansion comes at a time when African regulators are navigating how to embrace foreign-owned telecom infrastructure without ceding sovereignty over critical communications networks.
In South Africa, Starlink’s operations remain stalled over local ownership requirements. In Somalia, licensing was fast-tracked, and the company’s full ownership model was accommodated without major public debate.
Starlink’s expansion comes as other global competitors, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, seek to enter the growing satellite broadband market, which analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate could reach $400 billion by 2040.
Still, satellite access is not a substitute for regulation. Starlink has no retail presence in Somalia and no local support teams. Starlink delivers service and hardware via its website, with users arranging orders remotely and relying on online support materials; mechanisms for addressing consumer complaints or returns locally have not been established. Globally, Starlink’s return policy allows a full refund if equipment is returned within 30 days, but operations appear to be conducted only from Starlink’s centralized platforms, not through a Somali-based office or support center.
Optimists argue Starlink could become an equalizer. A rural teacher could download curriculum materials without travelling to a city. A nomadic family in Galmudug could access telehealth consultations. A small logistics firm in Doolow might finally track its cargo without relying on two SIM cards and a power bank.