• MTN South Sudan now sells Starlink kits and subscriptions nationwide.

• Starlink offers speeds of 25–220 Mbps and low latency.

• Starlink now leads South Sudan’s ISP market with 30% share.

MTN South Sudan announced on October 2 that Starlink kits and subscriptions are now available for purchase and support at its Customer Service Points and Connect Stores nationwide. The move follows MTN’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink in September 2024 and authorization by the National Communications Authority, furthering the company’s role in advancing South Sudan’s digital inclusion agenda.

"This partnership with Starlink is a game-changer for South Sudan," said Olutayo Egunjobi, Head of the Enterprise Business Unit at MTN South Sudan. "It enables us to connect even the most remote communities with dependable internet access that can transform lives, empower businesses, and drive national development."

MTN added that Starlink delivers download speeds of 25–220 Mbps and latency of 50–90 milliseconds, making it well-suited for cloud services, video streaming, and other data-heavy applications. Customers are encouraged to purchase kits exclusively through authorized MTN channels to ensure genuine products, reliable support, and uninterrupted service.

South Sudan’s connectivity gap underscores the significance of this rollout. According to Internet Society Pulse, only about 12% of the population used the internet in 2022—well below Africa’s 39% average. The country also ranks low on internet resilience, with a score of just 23%, highlighting its vulnerability to disruptions. As of 2025, Starlink already leads the ISP market with a 30% share, followed by MTN (28%), Zain (17%), and Digitel (16%). While 62% of the population has access to at least one device with 4G, less than 1% have access to 5G.

Against this backdrop, MTN’s integration of Starlink into its distribution network is expected to significantly improve digital access in one of Africa’s least connected countries. By bridging infrastructure gaps and expanding affordable high-speed connectivity, the initiative could accelerate digital inclusion, support economic growth, and strengthen South Sudan’s resilience in an increasingly digital economy.

The partnership between MTN and Starlink extends far beyond simply selling internet kits to individual consumers. Its most strategic function is providing "cellular backhaul," where Starlink's satellites connect MTN's remote mobile towers to the internet. Furthermore, the collaboration targets high-value enterprise clients, offering reliable, high-speed internet to industries like mining, agriculture, and banking that operate far from city centers, as well as providing connectivity for remote schools and clinics..

In 2023, MTN began engagements with SpaceX’s Starlink, piloting enterprise-grade trials in Rwanda and Nigeria. By May 2025, Airtel Africa had also signed an agreement with SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s high-speed internet across its markets. Another example is a partnership in Mozambique with Paratus Group, a deal specifically focused on providing robust, high-performance satellite connectivity to business clients in sectors like mining, logistics, and tourism.

Hikmatu Bilali