The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has signed a one-year licensing agreement with Starlink to enhance high-speed Internet access across Liberia, focusing on remote and underserved areas. This provisional license allows the LTA to evaluate Starlink’s services, establish quality standards, and ensure consumer protection during the rollout.
Abdullah Kamara, Acting Chairperson of the LTA, announced that Starlink’s official service is set to launch in the first week of November. However, unauthorized individuals are already providing the service in some regions, prompting Kamara to advise citizens to confirm the legitimacy of their Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
This agreement follows a virtual meeting in July between Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and Elon Musk, CEO of Starlink, where they discussed the potential launch of the satellite Internet service in Liberia. President Boakai expressed his administration’s commitment to collaboration with Starlink, inviting Musk and his team to visit the country.
Kamara highlighted that this initiative marks a significant step toward achieving universal Internet access for Liberia, which currently has about 60% coverage. The government aims to increase this figure to nearly 100% by utilizing Starlink’s capabilities. As of early 2024, Internet penetration in Liberia was at 30.1%, with approximately 1.65 million users.
The agreement also aims to address concerns about outages in Liberia’s existing Internet infrastructure, particularly the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fibre optic cable, which serves as the backbone of the current Internet services. With Starlink as a backup, the country will be better equipped to handle disruptions caused by issues with the ACE cable.
The LTA encourages Starlink to collaborate with local Internet providers to ensure that the economic benefits of this initiative are shared with the people of Liberia. The service is expected to support major institutions, including hospitals, schools, government offices, and clinics across the country.
Philips Babatunde