A delegation from satellite internet provider Starlink visited Cameroon last week, as the US-based business seeks to overcome a government suspension and obtain a license to operate there.
The team met with Cameroon's minister of posts and telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, as part of what insiders characterised as enhanced engagement between Elon Musk's company and local officials.
“I granted an audience to a delegation from Starlink, who had come to Cameroon as part of their bid to become officially established in the country, with a view to offering satellite internet access services with national coverage,” minister Likeng disclosed, but did not declare the outcome of the meeting.
Although details of the closed-door discussions have not been made public, the visit is believed to be a strategic move by Starlink to secure regulatory clearance.
Last year, Cameroonian banned Starlink services in the country, and authorities launched an operation to confiscate the satellite internet service provider's equipment, including routers, satellite dishes, base and power supply cables, at its ports of entry.
The decision came after the government cited worries about national security and unfair competition.
However, the demand for dependable internet, particularly in underserved rural and conflict-affected areas, has made the company's high-speed, low-latency satellite service an appealing proposition for both customers and policymakers.
If successful, Starlink's entry might shake up Cameroon's internet landscape, which is currently dominated by a handful of mobile network carriers and terrestrial Internet Service Providers.
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