The internet satellite company announced via its X handle that it had begun operations in the Western African country.
Starlink’s deployment in Senegal follows the introduction of a satellite-based internet offering by the nation’s principal network provider, Sonatel Orange, in December 2025.
Orange’s satellite internet service, which is delivered via the Eutelsat Konnect platform, furnishes residences and corporations with unlimited high-speed internet access.
Senegal is now part of an increasing number of African markets where several satellite internet providers are vying to close the digital gap by giving customers and companies more options for connection solutions that are suited to various requirements and budgets.
Back in December, the remote island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe became the 26th African country to gain access to Starlink, allowing for the provision of internet services even in the worst regions for internet access.
Prior to this, the small island nation had historically been confined by a few underwater cables and inadequate terrestrial networks.
Starlink’s recent struggles in Africa
However, in the same month, Uganda announced that its citizens would require written government permission to import Starlink satellite internet equipment, a move announced just weeks before it headed into its general election.
By January, Elon Musk expressed that South Africa’s telecommunications ownership rules are preventing his satellite internet company, Starlink, from launching in the country.
The South African-born billionaire argued that Starlink has been unable to secure an internet service provider licence in South Africa solely because he is not Black.
He was responding to a clip from a 2025 interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, where he criticised policies that grant preferential treatment based on race.
“There should be a fair and even playing field,” he said. “The facts are there for anyone to observe. South Africa now has more anti-White laws than there were anti-Black laws under Apartheid.”
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), which oversees the country’s telecom industry, mandates that licensees abide by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) regulations.
Among these is the need for historically underrepresented groups, such as women, youth, individuals with disabilities, and Black South Africans, hold 30% of the business.
Starlink has stated that while it is in favor of empowerment goals, it is against requiring multinational corporations with established worldwide shareholding structures to own stock.
