Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has officially launched in Senegal, extending its African footprint to 26 countries and marking another step in the company’s push to expand high-speed connectivity across the continent.
The launch was announced by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in a post on X, where he welcomed Starlink’s arrival in Senegal and highlighted the opportunities it could unlock for entrepreneurs and innovators, underscoring the company’s vision of broader global digital access.
Senegalese officials and members of the public have welcomed the rollout, pointing to the potential of satellite-based internet to address connectivity gaps, particularly in underserved and remote areas, while supporting economic growth and job creation.
Abdoulaye Dione, Director-General of the Senegalese Agency for Digital Development, said the deployment would help reduce digital exclusion by providing reliable and fast internet access to regions traditionally underserved by terrestrial infrastructure. He added that improved connectivity would support education, entrepreneurship and civic engagement across the country.
With the addition of Senegal, Starlink is now active in a growing list of African markets, including Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The expansion reflects SpaceX’s broader strategy to use low Earth orbit satellites to deliver internet access in regions where traditional broadband infrastructure remains limited or costly to deploy.
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