Telecom

Starlink Targets Liberia for High-Speed Satellite Internet

Starlink Targets Liberia for High-Speed Satellite Internet
Tuesday, 23 July 2024 19:03

Starlink is expanding its presence in Africa with plans to address the digital divide. In Liberia, approximately 70% of the population lacked internet access at the start of 2024, according to DataReportal.

The satellite internet provider, a subsidiary of the American company SpaceX, is focusing on Liberia for its operations. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, presented the initiative to Liberian President Joseph Boakai (photo, left) during a virtual meeting on Sunday, July 21. The President extended an invitation for Musk and his team to visit Liberia.

Starlink primarily offers high-speed internet services using its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The company plans to launch its services in Liberia by the end of 2024, pending regulatory approval. Pricing details for Liberia are not yet available. In Madagascar, where Starlink recently launched, the service costs 226,000 ariary (about $50) per month, with a one-time equipment fee of 1.58 million ariary for the standard kit. An alternative option with smaller equipment costs 136,000 ariary per month, plus 900,000 ariary for the equipment.

Starlink's entry into the market is expected to introduce more competition in the internet connectivity sector, which is currently dominated by telecom operators. This increased competition is likely to drive improvements in service quality and reductions in costs.

The satellite service from Starlink aims to expand connectivity to the entire Liberian population, including communities in remote and hard-to-reach rural areas that are often economically unfeasible for traditional telecom operators. The country currently has 1.6 million internet subscribers, with a penetration rate of 30.1%, according to DataReportal.

On the same topic
Econet launches AI unit, Econet AI, targeting rising demand Offers free Google Gemini access, unveils Cassava AiCloud platform Move reflects telecom...
Collaboration explores AI-RAN to improve network efficiency Nvidia provides computing power for real-time optimization Initiative aims to reduce...
Namibia allocates 107.1 million Namibian dollars ($6.5 million) to finance phases 2 and 3 of its Universal Service Fund (USF). The regulator...
Senegal and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a framework agreement to strengthen digital governance and integrate AI into public...
Most Read
01

(EBID) - EBID aims to allocate nearly 41% of its commitments to projects with environmental and...

EBID makes giant strides for a green transition in west africa
02

Mahindra & Mahindra is considering a CKD assembly plant near Durban to strengthen its presence i...

Mahindra & Mahindra Eyes Major Shift to Full Vehicle Assembly in South Africa
03

Four major operators—Mauritel, Mattel, Rimatel, and Chinguitel—submitted a combined bid of ...

Mauritanian Telecom Operators Submit $27 Million Combined Bid for 5G Licenses
04

Operators review 2025 investments, outline 2026 expansion plans Consumer complaints persist...

Cameroon Presses Telecom Operators on Service Quality as Complaints Rise
05

AFC disbursed €43 million for Côte d’Ivoire solar project Financing supports 66 MW pla...

AFC Backs First Green Project Finance Bond for 66MW Côte d’Ivoire Solar Plant
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.