SpaceX satellite internet service Starlink has launched its low-Earth-orbit (LEO) high-speed offerings in Côte d’Ivoire. The development means Starlink has now launched in 27 of 54 African co
SpaceX satellite internet service Starlink has launched its low-Earth-orbit (LEO) high-speed offerings in Côte d’Ivoire. The development means Starlink has now launched in 27 of 54 African countries.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the satellite operator announced its entry into the West African country, with its coverage and availability map indicating its presence in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Côte d’Ivoire!” the post reads.
Specifically, the internet service will operate under a 12-month provisional licence issued to Starlink Network CIV by the country’s telecommunications regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications/TIC de Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI).
The official launch follows the authorisation granted by the Ivorian government in June 2026. The licence approval was announced by Djibril Ouattara, Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, during the government’s Gouv’Talk dialogue series, and he noted that the licence terms will be reviewed at the end of the provisional period based on service quality.
Starlink’s eventual launch in Côte d’Ivoire followed months of regulatory challenges during its push for operation.
The final decision for a licence approval follows ARTCI’s Regulatory Council authorising specific low-Earth-orbit frequency bands for Starlink Network CIV through a decision in September 2025.
It follows a 2024 clampdown by the regulator, which warned that the company held none of the licences then required to operate in the country. This comes amid the presence of its hardware and usage of its services in the country, even when it hasn’t secured an operational licence.
Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire (Image Credit: Britannica) With the provisional authorisation now in place, Starlink has officially expanded its footprint to Côte d’Ivoire. The licence comes under a supervisory condition that allows ARTCI to remotely monitor and, where necessary, restrict specific frequencies.
However, the company is authorised to operate across multiple frequency bands, including Ka-band and V-band spectrum.
How much will Starlink cost in Côte d’Ivoire?Like other African countries it has launched, Starlink will look to make its services accessible to subscribers by offering an affordable price.
Meanwhile, estimates show that Starlink’s pricing is quite aggressive. It is expected to list its residential plan, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, at $50 (CFA 28,746) per month. For hardware, the company sells the Standard kit for $431 (CFA 247,466) and the lower-cost Mini kit for $258 (CFA 148,148).
This pricing places the Mini kit in line with the roughly $261 (CFA 150,000 (USD 261) charged for competing local satellite kits, rather than at the two-to-three-times premium Starlink charges in some other markets.
Competing ecosystem for Starlink.Starlink will be entering a competitive market in Côte d’Ivoire which already has two established satellite broadband competitors: Orange Côte d’Ivoire and MTN Côte d’Ivoire. The former partnered with Eutelsat in January 2026 to launch a service branded Orange Sat, while the latter’s launch followed in April 2026 with a multi-year agreement to deliver connectivity using Eutelsat Konnect’s high-throughput capacity.
Elon Musk The launch also comes as Côte d’Ivoire rolls out commercial 5G, which begins in cities with nearly 25,000 citizens via Orange, MTN, and Moov Africa.
Citizens now experience faster mobile networks that target urban demand with satellites that target rural coverage, addressing two distinct connectivity gaps in the same period. However, Starlink comes with an advantage, with its coverage spanning across underserved areas.
Both network offerings now sit within a broader government digital agenda around e-government, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and skills, part of the country’s stated ambition to become a leading digital hub in French-speaking West Africa.
