Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has launched in Equatorial Guinea, making the Central African country the company’s 30th African market.
The service became available on August 29, with Starlink’s official ordering platform now open to customers in the country. The launch follows provisional approval granted by Equatorial Guinea’s government in July.
Starlink provides internet through a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites, allowing users to connect without relying entirely on traditional fibre-optic cables or mobile phone towers.
The technology could be particularly useful in Equatorial Guinea’s rural and hard-to-reach communities, where extending conventional broadband infrastructure can be expensive and difficult. The country had about 1.18 million internet users at the end of 2025, with internet penetration estimated at 60.4 per cent.
However, Starlink’s entry into the country is currently operating under provisional approval rather than a permanent licence. The state-owned telecommunications infrastructure company, GITGE, is responsible for evaluating the service and determining the conditions that will govern its long-term operation.
The launch adds Equatorial Guinea to Starlink’s rapidly expanding African network, as the company continues to target countries where access to reliable high-speed internet remains limited.
The development is expected to increase competition in Equatorial Guinea’s telecommunications sector while potentially improving access to internet services for businesses, schools, healthcare providers and residents in underserved areas.
