Liberia has signed a one-year licensing agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to enhance internet coverage in the West African country. Currently, Liberia’s internet coverage stands at around 60%, but with this new deal, the aim is to push that closer to 100%, according to Abdullah L. Kamara, the acting chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).
“Every village, town, and even your farm can have access to the Internet,” Kamara said at the signing event, which was live-streamed on the LTA’s Facebook page. Starlink’s network, made up of low-Earth orbit satellites, is designed to provide internet access to remote areas where traditional infrastructure struggles to reach.
The LTA has issued a provisional one-year license to Starlink, allowing it to begin operations in Liberia starting November. Kamara explained that this initial year will serve as a trial period to assess the impact of the service, with a permanent license to follow after adjustments, if needed.
While the exact costs for users have yet to be determined, Starlink will work alongside local internet service providers as part of the deal. Currently, only 30% of Liberia’s 5.3 million people have reliable internet access, according to an LTA statement, which emphasized that Starlink’s entry could be transformative, particularly for rural areas.
This agreement follows a virtual meeting in July between Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai and Elon Musk, during which they discussed leveraging technology to boost Liberia’s development.
