Elon Musk, Starlink founder. (Pic credit: ALEX @ajtourville )

As the continent races to grant Starlink licences, the Kingdom of Lesotho has become the latest country to offer Space X-owned satellite service a 10-year operating permit.

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) announced the development in a statement, stating that "this landmark decision" marks a significant step forward in the country's digital transformation and underscores the regulator's commitment to enabling a competitive, transparent, and forward-thinking communications sector that drives economic growth and innovation.

The moves comes as the country considers working with the United States on a new bilateral trade agreement after being slammed with a 50% reciprocal export duty earlier this month. Starlink applied for a licence in April 2024.

LCA said: “Basotho will recall that Starlink submitted its application in April 2024. At the time, the Authority recognised that its existing licensing and classification framework required enhancement to adequately accommodate low-earth orbit satellite technology.

“This realisation prompted a comprehensive review of the applicable regulations and this included a period of public consultations.

“All stakeholders who submitted comments were invited for in-person engagements, in keeping with the Authority’s belief that dialogue enriches understanding and ensures that public input is meaningfully considered.

“The revised regulatory framework was gazetted on 31 January 2025, paving the way for the formal processing of Starlink’s application.”

Lesotho is the latest Southern African country to adopt Starlink services, joining Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others. Lesotho is now the continent's 22nd country to use the service.

“The approval of this operating licence clears the path for the authority to finalise the terms and conditions under which Starlink Lesotho will provide satellite internet services to individuals and businesses across Lesotho. The licence shall be valid for a period of ten years,” said the LCA.

“The licensing of Starlink Lesotho marks the dawn of a new era for connectivity in Lesotho,” it concluded.