The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced on Friday that it has granted a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite internet division of SpaceX. This move marks a major shift in the country’s stance and opens the door for improved internet access in the near future.
Starlink is expanding rapidly across Africa and is already operational in over a dozen countries. The DRC’s move follows similar license approvals in Somalia and Lesotho earlier this month.
According to the International Telecommunication Union, the DRC ranks among Africa’s least-connected nations. As of 2023, just around 30% of its population was connected to the internet. The arrival of Starlink could significantly improve access, particularly in remote or conflict-affected regions.
Until now, the Congolese government had resisted authorizing the service. Military officials had previously raised concerns that the technology could be exploited by armed groups, including the M23 rebels—an insurgency with alleged support from Rwanda that has made significant territorial gains in eastern DRC this year.
In March 2024, the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority even declared Starlink use illegal and warned of penalties for unauthorized users. However, the same body reversed its position on Friday, confirming that Starlink has now been officially licensed and “will proceed with the launch of its services in the coming days.”
Officials from the agency did not immediately provide further details on what prompted the change in policy.
