Botswana, Ghana get Starlink

Starlink, the satellite Internet provider backed by SpaceX, has officially launched its services in two African countries, bringing high-speed, low-latency Internet access to even the most remote areas in those countries.

In a post on X, Starlink announced that its high-speed, low-latency Internet was now fully operational in Botswana and Ghana.

The launch in Ghana comes a week after the country's National Communications Authority (NCA) announced that the company had concluded all its administrative and licensing procedures with the regulator.

Starlink's application to offer satellite broadband services in the West African country was approved in April.

Starlink's website shows that, for Ghanaian users, the hardware will cost 5,390 Ghanaian Cedi (US$344.40) and the monthly subscription fee is GHS770 ($49.20) per month.

The company offers a 30-day trial with no contracts or data caps and estimates shipping times will be two weeks.

Starlink's entry into Botswana

Elon Musk-owned satellite Internet service has also made entry into Botswana three months after it was granted a license in the country.

The company's entry into the Southern African country was not seamless as Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) reportedly rejected Starlink's license application back in February 2024.

However, a meeting between Starlink executives and Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi in Dallas, Texas, in early May fast-tracked proceedings as Starlink executives expressed interest in obtaining a license.

Starlink Business Operations VP Lauren Dreyer shaking hands with Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, flanked by Starlink Director for Global Licensing and Activation Ben MacWilliams and Starlink Global Licensing Activation Senior Director Ryan Goodnight. (Source: Botswana Presidency)

Starlink's website shows that, for users in Botswana, the hardware will cost 4,820 Botswanan Pula (US$363.66) and the monthly subscription fee is BWP688 ($51.91) per month.

Starlink also offers a 30-day trial with no contracts or data caps and estimates shipping times to be two weeks in the Southern African country.

With the inclusion of Botswana and Ghana, Starlink is now active in Benin, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique as well as Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Eswatini.

*Top image is of Starlink's availability map showing Botswana and Ghana. (Source: Starlink's website.)

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa