Starlink, the satellite internet subsidiary of American aerospace firm SpaceX, has officially received authorization to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a significant step in the nation’s push for greater digital inclusion.
The announcement was made in a press release issued Friday by Christian Katende, President of the Congolese Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), a division of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, New Information Technologies and Communication (PTNTIC) and Digital Affairs.
The document confirms that Starlink DRC SA has been granted a telecommunications network and services license, in accordance with existing national laws and regulatory frameworks.
The company has now regularized its administrative status and is expected to commence operations “in the next few days,” the ARPTC stated.
The move follows a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., on March 18, where PTNTIC Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba met with Starlink representatives.
The meeting focused on strategies to expand connectivity across the DRC, particularly in rural regions, where an estimated 70% of the population remains disconnected from the internet.
Key discussion points included enhancing connectivity for public institutions such as schools and health centers, and enabling remote communities to access high-speed internet through Starlink’s satellite technology.
The Ministry noted that specific technical and administrative procedures for rollout are being finalized.
Back in February, Minister Kibassa Maliba revealed that only one-third of the national territory had reliable internet access, underscoring the urgency behind the government’s digital modernization agenda.
“Digital inclusion and the modernization of public services” remain core priorities of President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
Since taking office, Tshisekedi’s government has overseen notable progress in connectivity.
The telecommunications penetration rate has climbed from 47% in 2019 to 62% in 2024, while internet penetration has more than doubled—from 16% to 33% over the same period, according to the Ministry.
Starlink’s arrival is widely expected to accelerate this momentum and bridge digital divides across the country.
Source: deskeco
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