The story of Starlink in the DRC is not just about internet access; it’s a test case for bridging one of the planet’s most persistent digital divides
The activation of Starlink in the DRC is undeniably a major development. It brings a powerful new tool to the fight against digital exclusion in one of the world’s most challenging connectivity environments.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation grappling with vast geography and limited infrastructure, has officially joined the Starlink constellation. Elon Musk’s satellite internet service is now active, making the resource-rich Central African giant the 19th country on the continent where users can access high-speed broadband from space.
The arrival of Starlink, confirmed via its official availability map, marks a potential watershed moment for digital connectivity in the DRC. Despite being Africa’s second-largest country by landmass and possessing immense mineral wealth, reliable and affordable internet has remained elusive for the vast majority of its 100 million citizens. Current estimates place internet penetration around 20%-22%, heavily concentrated in urban centers like Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, leaving rural and remote regions largely in the digital dark. Therefore, in a country where less than 20% of the population has regular internet access, the service could be a game-changer.
For proponents, Starlink offers a tangible solution to a persistent problem. Traditional fiber optic cable deployment is prohibitively expensive and slow across the DRC’s dense rainforests, challenging terrain, and regions affected by instability.
