Starlink Expands High-Speed Internet to Guinea-Bissau, Advancing Africa’s Digital Connectivity
Starlink has launched its low-flow internet service with low latency in Guinea-Bissau, progressing Africa’s digital connectivity.
The launch follows a provisional license granted in December 2024 and the complete approval of the National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (RNA-TO) in April 2025.
With this launch, Guinea-Bissau becomes the 23rd African country to concede in license to the Internet constellation of the Elon Musk satellite. The service is now available in several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, Angola, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and now Guinea-Bissau.
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The entry of Starlink into Guinea-Bissau intervenes while the country is lagging behind in expanding wide-band internet connections. About only 33% of all residents have internet access.
In January 2024, around 686,200 people, or 31.6% of the population, were Internet users, a significant increase of 2.9% in 2012. Mobile broadband was the main mode of access, with 2.25 million cellular mobile connections (103.3% of the population, because many have multiple connections).
4G coverage reaches approximately 32% of the population, but 5G is not yet available in 2023. The main suppliers are Orange Bissau and Telecel (formerly MTN), Starlink recently approved to operate, aimed at improving coverage in remote areas. The challenges include high costs (1 GB of mobile data costs around 21% of average monthly income), limited infrastructure and an unreliable electricity offer.
The entry of Starlink into the country of West Africa, should improve internet access with low latency latency, especially in poorly served areas, to potentially fill the digital gap where 67.5% of the population remains offline. The fixed broadband is almost nonexistent and free Wi-Fi hot spots are limited, without complete data on their availability.
In particular, Starlink’s ability to reach distant areas could considerably reduce the digital fracture of Guinea-Bissau, which has potentially increased Internet penetration beyond the current 31.6%. By allowing access to global markets, education and health care, Starlink could increase GDP growth (an increase of 1% of Internet users can increase GDP per capita up to 0.4% in sub -Saharan Africa) and authorize communities.
In addition, the presence of Internet services belonging to Elon-Musk can push local suppliers to innovate, but it could also force the smallest ITs unable to compete with its global scale and its price structure.
The launch of Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is a transformative step towards the closure of the digital divide, offering high speed internet with poorly served regions and promoting digital inclusion. It could stimulate economic growth, education and innovation, especially in rural areas.
However, high costs and potential capacity problems can limit its scope among low -income populations, and concerns about technological sovereignty persist. The overall impact will depend on Starlink’s ability to balance affordability, local partnerships and regulatory compliance while maintaining the quality of services.
It should be noted that Starlink has been developing in African countries since its debut in Nigeria in January 2023, aimed at improving the digital connectivity of the continent, where internet penetration is only about 40% compared to a global average of 66%.
The Internet service operates a constellation of more than 7,600 satellites of low terrestrial orbit (LEO), offering internet zones at high speed and low latency to poorly served and distant areas. Its significant expansion across Africa, Response to the challenges of continent’s connectivity, including low internet penetration (43% at the beginning of 2024), high costs and limited infrastructure, especially in rural areas where the use of smartphones is lagging behind urban areas up to 200%.
Ahead
The aggressive expansion of Starlink, supported by partnerships with local telecommunications like Airtel and Parattus Group, positions him to potentially become the most widespread ISP in Africa.
