By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Starlink’s high-speed internet is now operational in Burundi following a presidential decree that paved way for the satellite-based internet provider to acquire operating license in May 2024. The permit was granted under the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCT) of Burundi, which will be charged with execution of the decree under the office of its Director General.
This milestone has significantly enhanced internet access for Burundi’s residents, allowing countrymen and women leverage the opportunity to do vast things using this high-speed internet.
By doing this, Burundi joins the movement of other fourteen African countries in leveraging Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation to enhance satellite internet services countywide thereby bridging the digital divide in Burundi, particularly in rural areas.
With Starlink, Burundians can now access high-speed internet with speeds of up to 150 Mbps, enabling seamless video streaming, online gaming, and cloud-based services.
The launch is part of Starlink’s broader expansion plans in Africa, aiming to provide internet access to underserved communities across the continent.
This comes handy with enhanced internet connectivity for rural and urban areas, improved access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, increased competitiveness in the global digital economy and potential for e-government services and digital transformation
The government highly welcomes Starlink’s investment in Burundi’s digital infrastructure, authorities believe, ‘this partnership will significantly improve their citizens’ access to information and opportunities, driving socio-economic growth.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation developed by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. With over 4,000 satellites in orbit, Starlink aims to provide global internet coverage, connecting underserved communities and bridging the digital divide.