Liberia: LTA Awards Starlink One-12 months Provisional Licensing Settlement to Present Full Internet Service Throughout Liberia
Monrovia– The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has confirmed that Starlink, a satellite tv for pc web service supplier owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has signed a one-year licensing settlement to function and supply web connectivity throughout the nation.
By Jaheim T. Tumu- [email protected]
The historic settlement to convey Starlink to Liberia marks a major milestone within the nation’s technological and digital transformation. For the primary time, Liberia may have common communications protection, permitting anybody within the nation to entry the web from any location.
This initiative aligns with the objectives of Liberia’s National ICT Policy, which seeks to offer inclusive digital infrastructure and develop connectivity to underserved areas. The Joseph Boakai-Jeremiah Koung administration is about to perform this goal via the deployment of Starlink, making certain that even distant and rural areas acquire entry to dependable and high-speed web.
The license will permit LTA to judge Starlink’s providers over the subsequent yr, starting November, setting high quality requirements and making certain shopper safety as this cutting-edge expertise is deployed.
According to the Liberia LTA, it’s in an ongoing dialogue with Starlink to finalize industrial pricing for his or her providers, aiming to make them inexpensive for shoppers. These costs, which embody a one-time cost for the Starlink equipment and a month-to-month flat-rate cost for information utilization, will probably be confirmed forward of Starlink’s official launch in Liberia within the coming weeks. The focus is on making certain that the service stays accessible and useful to a broad viewers.
Why Starlink?
Despite a average improve in web utilization in Liberia, greater than half of the inhabitants stays with out entry. Liberia’s web penetration stands at simply 33.6% of the inhabitants of 5.2 million, in keeping with information from DataReportal. Many consider that Starlink’s entry might considerably increase connectivity, particularly in rural areas.
Starlink’s satellite tv for pc expertise affords larger protection and will be applied sooner than fiber optic cables, which, whereas extra dependable, are expensive to arrange. “Given that it has been about 13 years since the deployment of the Africa Coast to Europe submarine optical fiber cable, and Liberia’s internet penetration has not expanded as quickly as we had hoped, Starlink’s deployment might be the solution to bridging the digital divide,” famous an area tech fanatic.
In addition, its satellite-based web service leverages low Earth orbit satellites to ship high-speed web to areas with restricted or no connectivity. Its potential to offer dependable web entry in rural and distant areas might remodel training, healthcare, and financial alternatives in underserved communities. Starlink is already working in a number of African nations, together with Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Kenya.
Making the announcement at a press convention on Thursday in Monrovia, the Acting Chairperson of the LTA Abdullah Kamara, mentioned the one-year provisional license granted would permit the LTA to watch and assess the impression of Starlink’s satellite-based providers on current licensees inside Liberia.
Accordingly, throughout this one-year interval, the LTA goals to develop quality-of-service requirements and implement buyer safety measures particularly for satellite tv for pc telecommunications. This provisional license will allow Starlink to start operations whereas the LTA conducts a better analysis of how the service matches into the broader telecommunications panorama within the nation.
He additionally emphasised the settlement is to reinforce Liberia’s digital future, describing it as a pivotal second that may enhance Liberians entry to the web.
Said Kamara, “For the first time in our country’s history, we are making universal internet access a reality. “This agreement will allow Starlink to deliver high-speed internet to every village, town, and community, no matter how remote. It is a proud moment for me to be part of this, to usher Liberia into uncharted but well-deserved territory.”
Kamara emphasised that this initiative isn’t just about comfort — it’s about rights and entry. Starlink, with over 6,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, is about to supply high-speed web entry on to clients in Liberia.
These clients should purchase Starlink kits both via the official Starlink web site or from licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) approved by the LTA to resell Starlink merchandise. Starlink plans to supply varied packages tailor-made for each residential and enterprise customers, and it’s also approved to put in consumer kits on shifting automobiles corresponding to ships, planes, and automobiles, making certain web entry even on the go.
“For all telecom suppliers and regulators globally, one of many key indicators of success is entry — making certain that each citizen has the appropriate to data and communication providers. With Starlink’s satellite tv for pc web, we are going to obtain this entry, making high-speed web out there even in probably the most distant elements of Liberia, he mentioned.
I’m very proud to be the appearing chairperson right now to usher Liberia into unchartered however nicely deserve territory. All telecom regulators on the planet, one in every of their main indicators for achievement is entry. Access to telecommunication providers all through the nation. Access to data is a proper to the residents and I’m actually happy that our Board right now, has determined to award a license to Starlink whom providers will probably be out there, I feel perceive they lined 98 % of Liberia which implies each village, city, and even farm you’ll be able to have entry to web.
Abdullah Kamara, Acting Chairperson, LTA Board of Commissioners
According to Kamara, Starlink was chosen over different potential suppliers because of the web panorama in Liberia continues to be solely round 60 %.
“The government’s goal Is to push that number as close to 100 percent as possible, and Starlink’s satellite technology makes that goal achievable,” he mentioned.
Despite extension to web entry, the settlement additionally addresses issues about Liberia’s current web infrastructure, particularly the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber optic cable. The ACE cable, which has skilled three outages this yr, is the spine of Liberia’s present web providers. But with the presence of Starlink, the nation stands as an important backup system, making certain steady connectivity even when the ACE cable fails once more.
“This redundancy is crucial for ensuring reliable internet service across Liberia. With Starlink as a backup, we won’t experience the same level of disruption when the ACE cable goes down. We are taking major strides in securing Liberia’s digital future,” Kamara mentioned.
Kamara indicated that Starlink isn’t offering cell web providers however in contrast its perform to that of a satellite tv for pc tv supplier like DSTV.
“This service is more like an Internet Service Provider (ISP), but with significantly improved latency due to Starlink’s low-orbit satellites,” Kamara defined. “What makes Starlink different is that the satellites are much closer to earth, which means faster speeds and better performance for the end user.”
Kamara highlighted that the service would profit authorities ministries and businesses together with different services throughout the nation,”
“This means that town halls, clinics, and schools all over Liberia will now have the opportunity to sign on to Starlink services,” he mentioned.
Kamara revealed the LTA is pushing for Starlink to work with native web suppliers to make sure that the financial advantages from the initiative are shared with Liberians.
“We have made it clear that we want Starlink to collaborate with local ISPs, so they can be part of this transformation,” Kamara mentioned. “This will create opportunities for local businesses and bring the service directly to homes, hospitals, clinics, and government offices.”
