Starlink Boosts Broadband in Sub-Saharan Africa, Outpaces Traditional ISPs
Starlink boosts Africa’s broadband with faster speeds, but faces challenges like high latency, capacity limits, and regulatory hurdles in key markets.
Karim Yaici, Lead Industry Analyst MEA at Ookla, writes about the performance and impact of Starlink’s satellite internet in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its transformative effect on broadband access.
Starlink’s satellite service outperforms traditional ISPs in speed, delivering median download speeds above 75 Mbps in Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, and Ghana in Q1 2025. However, speeds in Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe were below 50 Mbps, impacted by capacity limits.
Local Points of Presence (PoPs) have improved latency in regions like Kenya, while regulatory challenges and varying costs remain hurdles. Despite this, Starlink has significantly boosted fixed broadband access in markets like Nigeria and Kenya. Partnerships with local telecom operators are key for further growth.
