Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation that has long suffered from digital exclusion, has officially welcomed the Starlink satellite internet network. Starlink announced this development on X on Tuesday.
This development follows the 22nd General Assembly of West African telecom regulators, where the National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) gave the service full operational approval. Guinea-Bissau is now one of over 20 African nations linked by Starlink’s low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite system.
A few months after the service’s official launch in Lesotho, Somalia, Liberia, and Niger, the company was granted a new full licence to operate in Guinea-Bissau in April 2025, where it had previously received provisional approval in December 2024.
Guinea-Bissau’s digital gap
Considering that almost 67.5 per cent of the population is still offline, this is a massive milestone for the country.
The internet infrastructure in Guinea-Bissau has been shaky for years, centred on just two major operators: Orange Bissau and Telecel. Both of these companies mainly rely on fibre optic connections from Guinea-Conakry and neighbouring Senegal.
Digital inclusion and economic opportunity have been severely impeded by frequent blackouts, poor last-mile connectivity, and limited rural access, particularly in the fields of small business, education, and health.
In Guinea-Bissau, where inadequate terrestrial infrastructure has hindered connectivity, its satellite-based solution provides speeds of up to 150 Mbps, which is revolutionary for a country with a GDP of only $1.6 billion, according to World Bank data.
Benefits of Starlink
To provide high-speed, low-latency broadband even in the most remote areas, Starlink’s model uses a growing constellation of LEO satellites launched by SpaceX, eschewing conventional ground infrastructure.
As it grows, Starlink’s satellite network has the potential to transform healthcare, education, and business in underserved areas of the nation, but obstacles like infrastructure costs and regulatory restrictions continue to be major.
The company’s official website states that the expansion is in line with its goal of offering internet access “almost anywhere on earth.”
This accomplishment demonstrates its rapid growth, as evidenced by its more than 6 million subscribers worldwide and its network’s recent addition of 28 new satellites launched from Florida.
Starlink’s price list
The website lists a monthly residential plan at FCFA 36,000 (USD 63) and the Starlink Standard Kit at FCFA 228,000 (USD 400).
The Starlink Minikit will retail for FCFA 117,000 (USD 205), while a 250 GB package is available for FCFA 18,000 (USD 31) per month.
Guinea-Bissau’s availability map shows complete coverage, with areas like Bissau, Buba, and Gabú marked as “Available.” However, some areas are still listed as “Waitlist” or “Coming Soon,” indicating a phased deployment.