Starlink is a satellite broadband service run by Elon Musk’s private space company SpaceX.
It is supported by a network of over 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites which SpaceX has been launching in batches since 2019.
Due to Starlink satellites being located much nearer to Earth’s surface than conventional geostationary Internet-beaming satellites, Starlink provides much higher speeds and lower latency than the average satellite service.
The standard rectangular satellite dish for residential usage is rated for download speeds from 20-100Mbps, with latency between 25-50ms.
It could prove particularly useful in rural areas with limited or no mobile connectivity or fixed broadband access.
Seven other countries on the continent — Angola, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania — are slated for rollout in the first quarter of 2023.
Eleven more African countries also have their estimated availability dates as sometime in 2023.
Including the officially-unrecognised state of Somaliland, 12 countries on the continent will get the service next year.
