Starlink to expand Internet access in Niger

Niger's ruling military Junta has struck a deal with SpaceX's satellite Internet service, Starlink, to expand coverage in the poorly connected country.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Sidi Mohamed Raliou, told state broadcaster, Tele Sahel, that the project has potential to significantly improve Internet service quality, targeting an average speed of 200 Mbit/s.

"Niger will benefit from this cutting-edge, high-speed technology at a very low cost," the minister said.

This agreement comes just two weeks after Liberia granted Starlink a one-year provisional license to commence operations in November 2024.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Sidi Mohamed Raliou, believes that Niger will benefit from Starlink's high-speed technology at a low cost. (Source: Starlink)

According to Starlink's availability map, the service will be available in Niger in 2025.

Although a bit dated, statistics from data platform DataReportal show there were 4.69 million Internet users in Niger in January 2024, with an Internet penetration rate of just 16.9%.

With a population of 27.71 million, Kepios analysis indicates that Internet users in Niger increased by 172,000, or 3.8%, between January 2023 and January 2024.

Starlink expands across Africa

Starlink has been hived in activity on the continent in recent months. From Nigerian tariff woes to renting Starlink kits in Kenya.

The satellite Internet service has also made inroads in South Africa.

Related:Botswana, Ghana get Starlink

The country's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, announced plans to amend a law mandating that global communication companies operate in the country with 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups.

That announcement came just weeks after Elon Musk engaged with various African leaders to discuss technological advancements and partnerships while the leaders were attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Starlink is currently operational across Africa in countries such as Burundi, Botswana, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Benin, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique as well as Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Nigeria and Eswatini.