Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is rapidly transforming the broadband landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa, outpacing traditional internet providers and offering new hope for underserved communities.
A new report from Ookla, released May 13, highlights Starlink’s strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, with median download speeds exceeding 40 Mbps in most Sub-Saharan African countries where it operates. In Botswana, Ghana, Rwanda, Eswatini, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique, users saw median speeds of 75 Mbps or higher-more than double what most terrestrial networks currently provide.
For many rural residents, these speeds are a game-changer. Traditional broadband infrastructure remains scarce or unreliable outside urban centers, making Starlink’s satellite service a vital alternative for households and businesses seeking consistent connectivity.
“We’ve seen a dramatic improvement in internet reliability,” said a local business owner in Ghana. “Our operations are smoother, and we can finally participate in the digital economy.”
Even in countries where Starlink’s speeds were lower-such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Kenya, and Madagascar, where median speeds fell below 50 Mbps-the service still outperformed local ISPs. Starlink’s decision to pause new sign-ups in some regions to manage network demand may have contributed to these lower speeds, but the service remains a lifeline for areas with limited internet penetration.
Latency, a crucial factor for real-time applications like video conferencing and gaming, has also improved. Kenya recorded a median latency of 53 milliseconds, Nigeria 60 ms, and Rwanda 67 ms in early 2025. These gains are credited to the deployment of local Points of Presence (PoPs), which act as ground-based gateways and reduce data travel times.
Starlink’s technical edge comes from its constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which orbit closer to Earth than traditional satellites. This means lower latency and faster speeds, especially when combined with local PoPs near high-speed fiber networks.
Upload speeds are also on the rise. Kenya’s median upload speed more than doubled to 14.85 Mbps, while Rwanda, Malawi, and Zambia saw increases of over 60%. These improvements are critical for users who need to upload large files, join video calls, or run cloud-based businesses.
However, the service is not without challenges. Regulatory hurdles vary across the region, with some governments imposing restrictions on satellite internet providers. The cost of Starlink’s service, while competitive in some markets, remains out of reach for many low-income households. Additionally, inconsistent electricity access in rural areas limits the impact of internet-enabled devices, even when connectivity is available.
Despite these obstacles, Starlink’s expansion is helping to close the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa. The service is increasingly fixed broadband access, spurring competition, and empowering communities with new digital tools.
