Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink has launched services in São Tomé and Príncipe, marking it as the 26th African nation to gain access, according to Business Insider. The rollout follows regulatory approval by the island nation’s authorities, who said the service would help bridge longstanding gaps in broadband access.
São Tomé and Príncipe has struggled with limited and costly internet access due to its reliance on undersea cables and satellite links. According to data from the International Telecommunication Union, internet penetration in the country remains below the African average, particularly outside the capital. Starlink confirmed the availability of its residential and business services through updates to its official coverage map.
Government officials said the satellite-based service is expected to support digital inclusion, remote education, healthcare delivery and small business growth, especially in hard-to-reach communities. Reuters reported that São Tomé and Príncipe is among a growing number of African countries turning to low Earth orbit satellite technology to overcome infrastructure constraints.
Starlink has accelerated its African expansion over the past two years, launching in markets including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Mozambique, as demand rises for reliable high-speed internet in regions underserved by terrestrial networks, according to Reuters.
