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Starlink Receives Authorization from ARN-TIC to Begin Offering Satellite Internet Services in Guinea-Bissau
Starlink receives authorization to operate in Guinea-Bissau. On April 10, 2025, the National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) officially granted Starlink Guinea-Bissau a Provisional General Authorization. This means Starlink now has the green light from ARN-TIC to offer satellite internet services in Guinea-Bissau, opening the door to a new era of connectivity for many people who previously struggled with unreliable or no internet at all.
This announcement was made by Bamba Kote, Chairman of ARN-TIC, during a major West African telecommunications meeting in Bissau. Starlink had already received a provisional license in December 2024, but this new approval from ARN-TIC in Guinea-Bissau makes it official. The company is now completing its final paperwork and is expected to begin full operations soon.
For Guinea-Bissau, this is big news. Right now, about 67.5% of the country’s population does not have internet access. The nation has mostly depended on just two main providers, Orange and Telecel, which recently took over MTN’s local business. These companies run fiber cables through neighboring Senegal and Guinea-Conakry, and also use wireless signals. However, internet outages are common, and many rural or remote areas have little to no service.
Starlink’s technology works differently. Instead of using cables or towers, it uses a network of satellites in space to beam internet directly to users on the ground. This means Starlink can reach places that traditional providers can’t, especially in rural areas where building infrastructure is expensive or difficult. The arrival of Starlink, after receiving authorization from ARN-TIC to operate in Guinea-Bissau, is expected to help bridge the digital divide and bring more people online.
As of early 2025, only about 32.5% of Guinea-Bissau’s population was using the internet, which equals around 723,000 people. That leaves roughly 1.5 million people still offline. With Starlink now authorized to operate in Guinea-Bissau, many more people could soon have access to reliable, high-speed internet, no matter where they live in the country.
Starlink’s entry into Guinea-Bissau is part of a larger push across Africa. In just the first four months of 2025, Guinea-Bissau became the fifth African country to approve Starlink’s satellite internet service. This move is in line with ARN-TIC’s goal to promote digital inclusion and improve connectivity throughout the country.
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Starlink receives authorization from ARN-TIC in Guinea-Bissau, paving the way for better internet access for everyone, especially those in hard-to-reach areas. This development is expected to boost digital inclusion, support businesses and education, and help Guinea-Bissau connect with the rest of the world like never before.
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