Starlink is an LEO satellite internet constellation operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The National Water Institute (INE) at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin has received a significant boost as charitable organisation, CoinEx Charity, provides Starlink satellite broadband connectivity to the institute.

Limited internet connectivity has long hampered academic and research development at this West African university.

As an important training and research centre in water resource management, INE has encountered substantial digital infrastructure difficulties that prevent students and staff from accessing knowledge and engaging in worldwide academic collaboration.

The INE's ageing infrastructure has made it impossible to satisfy current needs.

Now, the Benin deployment is part of the CoinEx Charity Starlink Program, a global humanitarian programme that aims to provide free internet to underserved regions through Starlink technology, as well as distribute basic food and living supplies to boost local livelihoods.

“This donation will greatly help the students of the Institut National de l'Eau to carry out their research and acquire skills in the digital sector, enabling them to keep abreast of new innovations in the water sector worldwide,” said a spokesperson of Merex, CoinEx’s representative in Benin.