Niger has become the latest African country to approve Elon Musk's Starlink, SpaceX's Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet service, after the country's military government granted it a five-year license to provide high-speed connectivity. This move marks a significant step in bridging the digital divide in Niger, which has one of the lowest internet penetration rates in Africa, with only 32% of its population having online access.

The country's digital infrastructure remains underdeveloped, covering just 30% of its territory, leaving vast rural areas disconnected. This limited access is partly due to low investment in the sector and ongoing attacks on communication infrastructure by armed groups, according to the electronic communications regulator ARCEP. By leveraging satellite technology, Starlink aims to bridge this gap and provide fast, reliable internet across the country.

Niger is not the first African country to approve Starlink. In January, Liberia became the first country on the continent to launch the service. Starlink's expansion in Africa is part of a broader trend to improve connectivity on a continent where only 40% of the 1.3 billion people have internet access, the lowest rate globally.

However, the service has encountered obstacles in some nations. For example, despite its presence in neighbouring countries, Starlink remains absent in South Africa, Africa's largest and most industrialized economy. In August 2023, South Africa banned the import of Starlink kits, leaving the country cut off from SpaceX's satellite internet. Talks to introduce the service in the country have repeatedly stalled, even as demand for alternative internet solutions continues to grow.

Elon Musk recently claimed that Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa because he is "not Black." The reason behind this ban is still unclear, but it highlights the challenges that Starlink faces in its expansion across Africa. Despite these challenges, Starlink, which serves over 2.6 million customers worldwide, provides broadband internet through a network of approximately 5,500 satellites that SpaceX started deploying in 2019.

The approval of Starlink in Niger is a significant development in the country's efforts to improve its digital infrastructure. As the service expands across Africa, it is likely to have a profound impact on the continent's economic and social development. With Starlink, rural areas that were previously disconnected from the global digital economy will now have access to fast and reliable internet, opening up new opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

As Africa continues to grapple with the challenges of digital inequality, the expansion of Starlink and other satellite internet services is a welcome development. With only 40% of the population having online access, there is still much work to be done to bridge the digital divide. However, with Starlink's presence in Niger and other African countries, there is hope that the continent will soon be fully connected to the global digital economy.