Starlink experiences divergent market developments in Cabo Verde and India

Starlink has significantly increased its internet traffic share in Cabo Verde, rising from 6% in the second quarter of 2025 to 18% in the second quarter of 2026. According to the Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Agency (ARME), the satellite operator now accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation's total traffic, despite holding less than 1% of total internet access subscriptions. This disparity suggests that Starlink connections generate a much higher average volume of data compared to local competitors Cabo Verde Telecom and Unitel.

In contrast, Starlink continues to face regulatory hurdles in India. Despite holding a license since June 2025, the company has been unable to sell connections due to pending security clearances from the Home Ministry. The delay has sparked public debate between those viewing the service as a potential foreign security threat and those arguing that the delay prevents rural connectivity. The situation highlights the limitations of territorial licenses, which allow a nation to regulate local hardware and gateways but do not grant control over the orbiting satellites or the proprietary network management software used by SpaceX.