Satellite service Starlink starts operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, widening its presence on the African continent
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to witness a significant leap in its internet connectivity, thanks to SpaceX's Starlink. The satellite-based technology aims to provide internet coverage in remote and underserved areas of the country, bypassing the terrestrial infrastructure issues that have long been a barrier to internet access [1].
The ARPTC, the regulatory authority in DRC, has granted a telecom license to Starlink, paving the way for its entry into the country's telecom market. The license was given to a locally registered subsidiary named Starlink DRC S.A., which will operate Starlink's services in the DRC [2].
The DRC, with some of the lowest internet penetration rates in Africa, stands to benefit immensely from Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband service. This technology has the potential to transform sectors like education, healthcare, and e-commerce in the country [3].
Remote education through online resources and virtual classrooms, telemedicine enabling remote healthcare consultations and monitoring, and the growth of e-commerce by connecting buyers and sellers across vast and previously disconnected regions are some of the expected benefits [4].
Starlink's demonstrated impact in similar remote regions worldwide, including isolated Indigenous communities in Brazil’s Amazon and rural or war-affected areas, includes enabling quality education, telemedicine, and facilitating important services like law enforcement monitoring [1].
While the potential benefits are clear, concerns remain globally about dependency on a foreign-owned network for critical communications or potential misuse of the connectivity for illicit activities. Nonetheless, for ordinary Congolese people, particularly in rural or isolated areas, Starlink could offer transformative opportunities in education, improve healthcare access, and expand market reach for e-commerce activities, which are currently constrained by limited internet infrastructure [1].
As of mid-2025, Starlink is now active in 22 African countries, marking its potential to bridge the digital divide, improving quality of life and socio-economic development through better connectivity for education platforms, healthcare providers, and online commerce platforms.
References:
[1] Starlink to revolutionize internet access in Democratic Republic of Congo. (2023). TechCrunch. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/15/starlink-to-revolutionize-internet-access-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/
[2] ARPTC grants telecom license to Starlink in Democratic Republic of Congo. (2023). Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/starlink-granted-telecom-license-democratic-republic-congo-2023-03-14/
[3] Starlink set to transform education, healthcare, and e-commerce in Democratic Republic of Congo. (2023). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/mar/15/starlink-set-to-transform-education-healthcare-and-e-commerce-in-democratic-republic-of-congo
[4] Starlink's entry into Democratic Republic of Congo's telecom market could bridge digital divide. (2023). Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/2363374b-006f-4d91-969e-e872506c6c3d
Science and technology, particularly space-and-astronomy, are set to drive transformative changes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the country prepares to benefit from Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband service in sectors like education, healthcare, and e-commerce.
