Starlink: Bridging the Connectivity Gap in Rural Africa
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service from SpaceX is revolutionizing broadband access across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where traditional infrastructure is lacking. The recent report from Ookla, titled “Connecting Africa: The Performance and Impact of Starlink’s Satellite Internet,” sheds light on Starlink’s performance in the region during the first quarter of 2025.
Starlink’s wide coverage and increasing affordability offer a promising solution to closing the connectivity gap in rural areas while also attracting urban users. The Ookla report analyzed Starlink’s performance in SSA, comparing it to terrestrial services and evaluating its impact on the broadband market.
During Q1 2025, Starlink delivered a median download speed exceeding 40 Mbps in most countries where it operates, surpassing traditional ISPs by a significant margin. Countries like Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and Ghana experienced median download speeds of around 75 Mbps or higher.
However, in countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Kenya, and Madagascar, where Starlink faces capacity constraints and new sign-up limitations, speeds were below 50 Mbps. Despite this, Starlink’s speeds still outperformed terrestrial networks in most African countries.
Starlink’s entry into the African market has notably increased access to fixed broadband, particularly in Nigeria and Kenya, where it has emerged as a competitive alternative. While the service has yet to launch in South Africa, discussions are underway to potentially bring Starlink to the country.
Starlink, with its constellation of low-earth orbit satellites, aims to provide high-speed internet globally. With 4.6 million customers worldwide, the service targets underserved markets like Africa for expansion. Since its inception in 2019, Starlink has deployed over 7,000 satellites, covering a significant portion of the globe.
In Africa, Starlink’s rapid expansion began in Nigeria in February 2023 and Rwanda in March 2023. The service now spans 18 countries, with plans to expand to at least 10 more by the end of the year. Despite varying performance levels, Starlink offers a speed advantage over traditional fixed alternatives, enhancing experiences like file downloads and livestreaming.
As South Africa explores the possibility of introducing Starlink, the service holds the potential to bridge the connectivity gap in rural areas and transform the broadband landscape across the continent. Starlink’s innovative approach to satellite internet could be the key to unlocking a new era of connectivity in Africa.
