Keypoints:
- Starlink gets 10-year licence in Lesotho
- Approved by national telecom regulator
- Internet service via satellite planned
LESOTHO has officially approved a 10-year operating licence for Starlink, the satellite internet venture founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The move paves the way for the company to deliver satellite-based internet services across the mountainous Southern African kingdom.
In a statement released on Monday, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) confirmed that Starlink Lesotho has been granted permission to operate a satellite network and provide broadband services nationwide. The licence will be valid for a decade, offering the company long-term access to one of Africa’s least-connected populations.
‘This development is expected to transform the country’s digital landscape and expand internet access to even the most remote areas,’ the LCA noted in its statement.
Reuters reported the regulatory greenlight as part of Starlink’s wider push into African markets, where traditional internet infrastructure remains patchy or underdeveloped.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX, delivers high-speed internet using a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites. The service has already launched in several African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zambia, as part of Musk’s wider ambition to provide global connectivity, especially in underserved regions.
The Lesotho licence signals the government’s broader commitment to improving digital inclusion and bridging the connectivity gap. It also reflects growing enthusiasm across African states to adopt space-based technologies as a fast-track route to digital transformation.
Local reactions have been largely positive, with many anticipating better access to online services for education, business, and healthcare—particularly in rural highland areas where fibre or mobile networks struggle to reach.
At the time of reporting, no specific timeline had been shared for when Starlink’s services will go live in Lesotho. However, with regulatory approval now in place, deployment is expected to proceed in the near future.
As demand for reliable internet continues to rise across the continent, Starlink’s entry into Lesotho adds momentum to Africa’s fast-evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
