SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced Sunday that the company’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is now available in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Congo’s government granted Starlink a license on Friday, overturning a previous ban that had been imposed in March 2024. The ban was initially enforced due to concerns that the satellite service could be used by rebel groups, including the Rwandan-backed M23, which has gained significant ground in eastern Congo this year.
Despite the ban, Congo remains one of the most connected countries in Africa, with just 30% of its population accessing the internet as of 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union.
Starlink has been rapidly expanding across Africa, now operating in over a dozen countries as part of its push to provide global broadband service.