Uganda grants Starlink license to operate

Uganda has granted a license to Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink to operate in the country, President Yoweri Museveni said Friday on X.

Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, has been expanding rapidly across Africa. It already operates in more than a dozen African countries, including Somalia.

Museveni said he presided over the signing of an operational license agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission and Starlink. He called it an important step toward the start of their operations in Uganda.

The Uganda Communications Commission is the country’s communications sector regulator.

Museveni said he is pleased that Starlink agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service delivery.

Ugandan consumers have long complained about high costs and unreliable domestic internet services. Some blame limited competition in the market.

A unit of South African telecom giant MTN Group dominates Uganda’s data market, competing mainly with a unit of India’s Bharti Airtel.

SOURCE: Reuters