Nigeria has become the first African country in which Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, is available.

Starlink employs its satellite constellation – apparently the world’s largest, and which uses a low Earth orbit – to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to users in 47 countries globally. According to ITWeb, the service offers speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 150 Mbps, with latency as low as 20 ms. In comparison, traditional VSAT satellite broadband services are capable of speeds up to 20 Mbps.

The company’s coverage map shows that plans are under way to launch services in Mozambique, Angola, eSwatini, Zambia and Kenya this year, with other African nations to follow in due course.

7 February 2023
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