Starlink representatives and Somali government officials at the formal ceremony in Mogadishu.

Somalia's National Communications Authority (NCA) has awarded Starlink an operational licence, making it the continent's 21st country to use the satellite service.

The announcement was made during an official ceremony in Mogadishu, attended by Starlink and Somali government leaders, becoming the East African country the continent's most recent adopter of Elon Musk's satellite service.

Cape Verde, Nigeria, Mozambique, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Benin, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Eswatini, Angola, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, and Niger are among the countries that use Starlink.

The NCA said the installation of Starlink intends to boost national internet coverage and digital inclusion dramatically.

According to statistics, Somalia had 5.08 million internet users in early 2024, representing only 27.8% of the population, with 72.4% still offline.

The NCA stated that the project is in line with the Ministry of Communications and Technology's objective of providing affordable and accessible internet services to all Somalis, regardless of their location.

“Starlink’s entry into Somalia represents a significant milestone in our efforts to bridge the digital divide in our country, this partnership will especially benefit individuals and institutions in rural areas, where internet access has been extremely limited,” said Mustafa Yasin Sheik, director general of NCA.

Mohamed Mo’allim, minister of communications and technology, added: “ This initiative aligns with our vision to deliver affordable and accessible internet services to all Somalis, regardless of where they live.”