Starlink gets a one-year license in Liberia to improve Internet access
On Friday, October 11, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) announced that they have signed a one-year agreement with Starlink to help bring fast Internet to more people in Liberia, especially in faraway places that need it the most.
This special license will let the LTA check how well Starlink’s services work over the next year. They want to make sure the Internet is good quality and that everyone is protected as the service starts.
Abdullah Kamara, the Acting Chairperson of the LTA, said, “Starlink’s official service will be available in the first week of November.” He also mentioned that some people are already trying to sell Starlink services without permission, so he encouraged everyone to check with their Internet providers to make sure they’re getting the real deal.
This agreement comes after Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. spoke with Elon Musk, the CEO of Starlink, about bringing the service to Liberia about three months ago. President Boakai even invited Musk and his team to visit Liberia, showing how committed the government is to working together on this project.
Kamara pointed out that this is an exciting step for Liberia, as the country is aiming for everyone to have access to the Internet. He explained, “This agreement will allow Starlink to deliver high-speed Internet to every village, town, and community, no matter how remote.” Right now, only about 60% of Liberia has Internet access, and the government hopes to get that number closer to 100% with Starlink’s help. At the beginning of 2024, only 30.1% of people in Liberia were using the Internet, which is about 1.65 million users.
The new agreement also helps to tackle problems with the current Internet system in Liberia, which relies on the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber optic cable. Kamara noted that having Starlink as a backup means the country won’t experience as many Internet outages if the ACE cable has issues.
Finally, the LTA is encouraging Starlink to work alongside local Internet providers to make sure that the benefits of this project help Liberians. The new service will be great for important places like hospitals, schools, government offices, town halls, and clinics across the country.
