Starlink Expands in Africa with Official Approval in Guinea-Bissau
Elon Musk’s Starlink has received full approval to operate in Guinea-Bissau, marking a significant expansion of its satellite internet service across Africa. The country’s National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) granted Starlink regulatory approval after approving a provisional license in December 2024. With nearly 67.5% of Guinea-Bissau’s population lacking internet access, Starlink aims to provide more reliable service, addressing frequent disruptions caused by existing providers. This approval makes Guinea-Bissau the third African nation to grant Starlink operational approval this April after Lesotho and Somalia. Africa has the poorest internet penetration rate in the world, making Starlink’s rapid expansion across the continent a pivotal step in improving internet accessibility in underserved regions.