Chad announced on Tuesday that it has approved the licensing of Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, to enhance internet services in the country.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX, already operates in several African nations but has encountered regulatory hurdles and resistance from state-owned telecom providers in some regions.
Communications Minister Boukar Michel said discussions with Starlink began in 2021, leading to an agreement. According to World Bank data, only 12% of Chad’s population had internet access in 2022.
Michel highlighted that much of the country lacks fiber optic coverage, and Starlink’s service could bridge this gap and support the digitalization of public services and tech start-up growth in remote areas.
On Monday, Elon Musk confirmed the news by posting “Starlink now available in Chad!” on X (formerly Twitter). The service is already present in countries including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Malawi.
This year, regulatory issues surfaced elsewhere, with Cameroon ordering the seizure of unlicensed Starlink equipment. Kenya’s leading telecom provider, Safaricom, has also suggested that satellite providers like Starlink should be required to collaborate with local network operators.
