Ugandan Yoweri Museveni announced on Friday that his government has granted an operating license to Starlink, the satellite internet service provider owned by Elon Musk.
Starlink is expanding its reach across Africa and is already operational in more than a dozen countries, including Somalia.
Museveni said he had presided over the signing of an “operational licence agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission and Starlink, marking an important step towards the commencement of their operations in Uganda.”
The Uganda Communications Commission is the country’s communications sector regulator. “I am pleased that Starlink has agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service delivery in the country,” he added.
Ugandan consumers have long complained about the high cost and unreliability of domestic internet services, which some blame on limited competition in the market.
A unit of MTN Group dominates Uganda’s data market, competing mainly with a unit of Bharti Airtel.
