Elon Musk presses forward despite setbacks, launches Starlink in 19th African country.

Elon Musk remains undeterred by recent challenges to his empire and continues to pursue his ambitious African Starlink business expansion plans.

Yesterday, the billionaire revealed that Starlink, his SpaceX company's satellite internet service, has gone live in Niger.

"Starlink is now available in Niger," Musk announced in a post on his social media platform X.

This announcement comes after a turbulent week for Musk, whose microblogging platform X (previously Twitter), was targeted by a massive cyber-attack.

Tesla, too, has endured a series of targeted attacks, including vandalism and hacking.

However, the successful launch of Starlink in Niger appears to be a significant victory for Musk, providing much-needed relief amidst the challenges.

As of this month, Starlink operates in 19 African countries.

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

The Nigerien government recently granted Starlink a licence to provide high-speed internet, marking a big step towards closing the digital divide in one of Africa's poorest countries.

With only 32% of the population online and 30% of the country served by existing internet infrastructure, Niger confronts major challenges in growing its digital footprint.

Many rural communities remain isolated, limiting their access to the growing digital economy and economic development.

According to a SpaceX spokesperson, the launch comes after the Nigerien government and Starlink signed a partnership deal in November 2024.

The spokesperson highlighted that Starlink's entrance promised to shake up Niger's digital environment, with plans to extend service across the country within the next five years, possibly connecting millions of people to the global digital economy.

"By working with the Nigerien government, we hope to enable a more connected future for the country," said the spokesperson.

Starlink's satellite technology, which bypasses traditional ground-based infrastructure, provides a lifeline to countries with restricted internet access, particularly in rural and remote areas.