SpaceX, the leading spacecraft manufacturer and satellite communications company led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, plans to expand its innovative satellite internet service, Starlink, to Ghana and Egypt in 2024.
This latest move comes as Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, takes charge of technological advancements in order to bring affordable high-speed internet access to underprivileged communities around the world.
The expected launch, which is still subject to regulatory approval in both Ghana and Egypt, will further strengthen Starlink’s presence in Africa, with its services now available in Nigeria and Rwanda.
Despite some purchasing difficulties in Nigeria, two prominent fintech companies, Chipper Cash and Payday, led by Ugandan tech tycoon Ham Serunjogi and Nigerian tech entrepreneur Favor Ori, have helped Elon Musk’s SpaceX process more than 400,000 Dollars in payments for Starlink high-speed internet and connectivity.
Starlink’s constellation of orbiting satellites provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, and its recent introduction in Africa marks an important step forward in the company’s expansion on the continent.
The current deployment of satellite internet in Africa follows Elon Musk’s announcement in 2022 that the satellite internet provider will operate anywhere legal on Earth. Starlink’s cutting-edge technology delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband internet via a constellation of orbiting satellites.
With its current presence on the African continent, the satellite broadband service is now available on all seven continents, including Antarctica, where it was launched as part of a test to provide better bandwidth and connectivity to scientists in the US Antarctic Program.
With the potential to provide much-needed connectivity to millions of people across the continent, including those living in remote and underserved areas, it is poised to be a game-changer.
In addition to Nigeria and Rwanda, the company plans to launch in Senegal, Benin, Togo, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique later this year, subject to regulatory approval.
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