Chad Approves Starlink Licensing

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) – Chad announced on Tuesday the approval of Elon Musk's satellite internet provider, Starlink, to enhance internet access within the country.

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, has operations in several African nations but has encountered regulatory challenges and resistance from local telecom monopolies elsewhere.

Chad's Communications Minister, Boukar Michel, stated, "We have been talking to Starlink since 2021 and we have managed to agree on the essentials," in a phone call with Reuters.

According to the latest World Bank figures, only 12% of Chad's population had internet access in 2022. Michel expressed hope, saying, "A large part of our territory is not covered by fibre optics, and I believe that Starlink will help us bridge this gap." He further noted that improved internet access would facilitate the digitalization of public services in remote areas and bolster the growth of tech start-ups.

On Monday, Musk tweeted, "Starlink now available in Chad!" The service currently operates in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Benin, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Sierra Leone.

Earlier this year, Cameroon seized Starlink equipment at ports for lack of licensing. Meanwhile, Kenya's Safaricom has suggested regulators require satellite providers like Starlink to partner with local network operators.