D
David Afolayan
Guest
Satellite internet service company, Starlink has launched its services in the West African country of Chad. This is according to a tweet on X by its founder, Elon Musk, yesterday.
Musk responded to a Tweet by Alex, a staff of the company who claimed that the country’s Minister of Communications Boukar Michel had announced the upcoming arrival of
Starlink. “According to the Minister, Starlink will solve the problem of reliability and cost of internet services that has been raging in the country since the beginning of 2024”, he said.
Recall that in September, the Chadian Electronic Communications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) issued a warning to individuals illegally marketing and operating Starlink terminals in the country. In a press release published on social networks on Friday, September 22, the telecoms regulator warns offenders of the penalties provided for by law.
This could range from five years imprisonment and fines to XAF100 million ($162,500) or double (XAF200 million) with one of the two penalties depending on the gravity.
ARCEP’s release comes as the Starlink network was increasingly being used in Chad without approval. For the telecoms regulator, it requires a license to launch its operations in the country. Two days earlier, ARCEP held a consultation meeting on Starlink’s application to become a Satellite Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Members of Chad’s Electronic Communications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP)
Although the pricing details were not revealed, analysts expect a range similar to other African countries. Following the most recent launches in Botswana and Zimbabwe, the internet company revealed that the hardware will cost $363, shipping will cost $24 and a monthly subscription will cost $52.
Particularly, pricing has been a major flash point for Starlink in Africa. Recall that the increased the price of its hardware in Nigeria by seventy-four per cent (from N4400,000 to N590,000) over “excessive levels of inflation”. The company has also announced an almost one hundred per cent increase in its monthly subscription.
However, the announcement was swiftly followed by a statement by the country’s telecoms regulation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which implied a readiness to to take appropriate enforcement measures against internet connectivity providers. About a week later, the company suspended the planned price hike owing to a lack of regulatory approval.
Starlink also pointed out that the price hike suspension is temporary, pending regulatory approval. “We remain committed to providing high-speed internet in Nigeria, but we need regulatory support to make the improvements necessary for a better customer experience.”
Starlink’s launch in Chad is coming two weeks after it launched in Zimbabwe. This makes it the fastest-growing internet service as it is now available in over 122 countries globally and in 18 African countries. The internet company has also launched in Botswana, South Sudan and Ghana in the past two months.
South Africa is now one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have an estimated in-service date. It was reported in April that Starlink is not going to work in South Africa because the company didn’t want to share ownership with locals as per the government’s requirements.
Starlink refused to comply with the country’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) requirements to gift 30% ownership to local historically disadvantaged people. Also, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Minister of Communications have failed to issue new communications licences in about 13 years.
Icasa says it has not received any application for a licence from Starlink, nor has the company approached the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), according to a report.
“It is of utmost importance to note that all licence applications have to go through Icasa and not DCDT,” they said.
Ironically, Icasa has not yet enacted its new regulations, leaving the future of Starlink in South Africa uncertain. The delay and confusion surrounding these regulations may have rendered Starlink’s withdrawal unnecessary.
However, in another report this July, it is said that Starlink’s satellite Internet service has remained online in South Africa for over two months despite warnings that it would cut off people using its roaming service in areas with no official support. The broadband service’s roaming has been working in South Africa since at least early 2023.
“Service date is unknown at this time,” according to an official map showing Starlink’s global launch plans as of press time.
Other countries in the region with published forecast go-live dates include Mauritius (sometime in 2025), Angola (fourth quarter of 2024), Tanzania (also Q4 2024), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2025), Comoros (2025) and the Seychelles (2025).
The post Starlink launches in West African country, Chad first appeared on Technext.
Musk responded to a Tweet by Alex, a staff of the company who claimed that the country’s Minister of Communications Boukar Michel had announced the upcoming arrival of
Starlink. “According to the Minister, Starlink will solve the problem of reliability and cost of internet services that has been raging in the country since the beginning of 2024”, he said.
Recall that in September, the Chadian Electronic Communications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) issued a warning to individuals illegally marketing and operating Starlink terminals in the country. In a press release published on social networks on Friday, September 22, the telecoms regulator warns offenders of the penalties provided for by law.
This could range from five years imprisonment and fines to XAF100 million ($162,500) or double (XAF200 million) with one of the two penalties depending on the gravity.
ARCEP’s release comes as the Starlink network was increasingly being used in Chad without approval. For the telecoms regulator, it requires a license to launch its operations in the country. Two days earlier, ARCEP held a consultation meeting on Starlink’s application to become a Satellite Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Members of Chad’s Electronic Communications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP)
How much will it cost?
Although the pricing details were not revealed, analysts expect a range similar to other African countries. Following the most recent launches in Botswana and Zimbabwe, the internet company revealed that the hardware will cost $363, shipping will cost $24 and a monthly subscription will cost $52.
Particularly, pricing has been a major flash point for Starlink in Africa. Recall that the increased the price of its hardware in Nigeria by seventy-four per cent (from N4400,000 to N590,000) over “excessive levels of inflation”. The company has also announced an almost one hundred per cent increase in its monthly subscription.
However, the announcement was swiftly followed by a statement by the country’s telecoms regulation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which implied a readiness to to take appropriate enforcement measures against internet connectivity providers. About a week later, the company suspended the planned price hike owing to a lack of regulatory approval.
Starlink also pointed out that the price hike suspension is temporary, pending regulatory approval. “We remain committed to providing high-speed internet in Nigeria, but we need regulatory support to make the improvements necessary for a better customer experience.”
Starlink’s launch in Chad is coming two weeks after it launched in Zimbabwe. This makes it the fastest-growing internet service as it is now available in over 122 countries globally and in 18 African countries. The internet company has also launched in Botswana, South Sudan and Ghana in the past two months.
What is holding Starlink up in South Africa?
South Africa is now one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have an estimated in-service date. It was reported in April that Starlink is not going to work in South Africa because the company didn’t want to share ownership with locals as per the government’s requirements.
Starlink refused to comply with the country’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) requirements to gift 30% ownership to local historically disadvantaged people. Also, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Minister of Communications have failed to issue new communications licences in about 13 years.
Icasa says it has not received any application for a licence from Starlink, nor has the company approached the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), according to a report.
“It is of utmost importance to note that all licence applications have to go through Icasa and not DCDT,” they said.
Ironically, Icasa has not yet enacted its new regulations, leaving the future of Starlink in South Africa uncertain. The delay and confusion surrounding these regulations may have rendered Starlink’s withdrawal unnecessary.
However, in another report this July, it is said that Starlink’s satellite Internet service has remained online in South Africa for over two months despite warnings that it would cut off people using its roaming service in areas with no official support. The broadband service’s roaming has been working in South Africa since at least early 2023.
“Service date is unknown at this time,” according to an official map showing Starlink’s global launch plans as of press time.
Other countries in the region with published forecast go-live dates include Mauritius (sometime in 2025), Angola (fourth quarter of 2024), Tanzania (also Q4 2024), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2025), Comoros (2025) and the Seychelles (2025).
The post Starlink launches in West African country, Chad first appeared on Technext.