by Elon Musk’s Starlink has officially launched in Guinea-Bissau, marking a major milestone as the satellite internet provider’s seventh entry into the West African market. The arrival of Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is poised to transform the country’s digital landscape, where 67.5% of the population remains offline and traditional providers, such as Orange and Telecel, have struggled to deliver reliable service due to frequent disruptions and limited infrastructure.
Regulatory Green Light for Starlink in Guinea-Bissau
Starlink’s journey to Guinea-Bissau began with a provisional license in December 2024, followed by full regulatory approval from the National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) in April 2025. With these approvals, Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is now moving swiftly toward a nationwide rollout, aiming to bridge the country’s persistent digital divide.
To ensure broad accessibility, Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is offering its Standard Kit for $400, with a residential service plan priced at $63 per month. For users seeking more affordable options, a 250 GB residential data plan is available for $31 monthly, and the Starlink Mini Kit can be purchased for $205.
These price points are designed to make high-speed satellite internet accessible to both urban and rural households, many of whom have never had reliable connectivity.
Starlink’s West African Expansion: A Growing Presence
The launch of Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is part of a larger push across the African continent. Since its initial African debut in Nigeria in 2023, Starlink has rapidly expanded its footprint, now serving 18 countries across Africa, including Liberia, Niger, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, and Zambia.
This expansion is critical for a continent where internet penetration lags behind the global average, with only about 40% of Africans online.
Related news: Smart Zambia Expands Starlink to Remote Shiwang’andu
Performance and Impact: Why Starlink in Guinea-Bissau Matters
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite network offers significant advantages over traditional internet service providers (ISPs). In many African countries, Starlink delivers median download speeds exceeding 40 Mbps, often surpassing those of terrestrial providers.
While latency remains higher than that of fiber, ongoing infrastructure improvements, such as local Points of Presence, are steadily reducing delays and enhancing the user experience.
The arrival of Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is expected to:
- Enhance internet access for schools, businesses, and government services.
- Provide reliable connectivity in rural and remote areas previously underserved by fiber networks.
- Offer a competitive alternative to existing providers, potentially driving down costs and improving service quality for all users.
Starlink’s Broader African Strategy
Starlink’s expansion is not without challenges. Regulatory hurdles, varying costs, and competition from established internet service providers (ISPs) have complicated its rollout in some markets. However, strategic partnerships—such as recent agreements with major telecom operators like Airtel Africa—are helping Starlink integrate satellite services into local offerings and reach even more underserved communities.
Related news: MTN Zambia Teams Up with Starlink to Boost Connectivity
With Starlink now live in Guinea-Bissau, the country joins a growing network of African nations benefiting from next-generation satellite internet. As Starlink continues to push its reach across the continent, it promises to play a pivotal role in closing Africa’s digital divide, empowering millions with new opportunities for education, business, and social connection.
Starlink in Guinea-Bissau is more than just a technological upgrade—it’s a leap forward for digital inclusion and a signal of Africa’s accelerating digital transformation.
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