Starlink and ROA BN drive African digital connectivity

Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is expanding its footprint across Africa. The company has identified 16 new markets for potential launch starting in 2026, including Mauritania, Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania, Comoros, Namibia, Angola, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, and Mauritius. This expansion follows the addition of Equatorial Guinea to its list of served markets, bringing the total to approximately 29 African countries.

Simultaneously, efforts to improve regional connectivity are advancing through terrestrial infrastructure. In Senegal, the West African National Backbone Network (ROA BN) is working to enhance digital cooperation. The organization aims to interconnect national fiber optic infrastructures and pool available capacities to reduce internet transit costs and improve communication resilience across the sub-region. An interministerial council of member states is scheduled to meet in Dakar in October 2026.