Zimbabwe Gives Green Light to Starlink

Zimbabwe Starlink: Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, has announced that citizens have licenses to operate Starlink in the country. This marks a pivotal step towards enhancing internet access.

The approval is anticipated to bring the deployment of high-speed, low cost, LEO (low-Earth-orbit) internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe and particularly in all the rural areas

Zimbabwe Starlink

In deploying the infrastructure in the country, Starlink will partner with IMC Communications to deliver its services in the country. According to the World Bank, only 34.8% of the population currently has internet access, with three major mobile operators dominating the market. 

Starlink aims to bridge this gap and supply services to rural areas. It will offer a more extensive and affordable internet infrastructure. The project follows issues with unregistered users using Starlink illegally in the country. This was when a politician’s son was arrested on charges of illegally possessing a Zimbabwe StarLink terminal.

Read Also: Zimbabwe Arrests Cabinet Minister’s Son for Using Starlink

The suspects involved were accused of forming Mumba Money Transfer Services without a license between January 2019 to May 8, 2024. Their actions resulted in the violation of the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering and Exchange Control Act.

Starlink’s presence in Africa is expanding, with the infrastructures available in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi. The company also has ongoing plans to expand to Ghana. 

Nevertheless, challenges remain in Cameroon, where authorities recently confiscated Starlink tools due to authorization issues.

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Abdullahi Kafayat
Abdullahi Kafayat

Abdullahi Kafayat is an enthusiastic writer interested in the tech world. She's a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and has a BSc in Chemistry. You can reach her at Kafayatabdullahi17@gmail.com.

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