Starlink joins DR Congo’s $400 million nationwide expansion plan 6 months after regaining licence

Starlink is now in active discussions with leading mobile operators, including Africell and Vodacom, to participate in a government-backed $400 million nationwide expansion plan aimed at improving broadband access across the central African nation.

The $400 million project traces back to a May agreement between Kinshasa and Monacosat, a Monaco based satellite operator co-owned by the Turkmenistan government, to launch a dedicated broadband satellite for the DRC.

According to Monacosat’s representative Jean-Philippe Anvam, a partner bank has already mobilised up to $400 million to finance the rollout as per Semafor.

The move marks Starlink’s strongest comeback yet in Central Africa’s connectivity market, following the government’s decision in May 2025 to lift its suspension and restore the company’s authorisation to operate.

Africell DR Congo CEO Kory Webster confirmed to Semafor that the U.S.-backed operator is in “active conversation” with Starlink for an operational partnership, while an executive from Vodacom, the market leader, said the company was exploring a similar collaboration.

The Vodacom official described Starlink’s service as “complementary,” helping to extend coverage to areas unreachable by terrestrial networks.

The engagement follows Kinshasa’s decision to grant Starlink a license in May 2025 after reversing a prior ban, and its endorsement of a $400 million national satellite program. Yet despite growing enthusiasm, progress remains slow.

Only about 30% of DR Congo’s population had internet access in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union, reflecting persistent infrastructure and affordability challenges.

Airtel has also struck a group-wide agreement with SpaceX to integrate Starlink across its African markets.

Meanwhile, Vodacom and Orange have announced a rural tower joint venture to deploy solar-powered mobile sites for underserved regions signaling a multi-pronged approach to bridging the digital divide.

As of October 2025, Starlink operates in 25 African nations, highlighting the company’s growing efforts to bridge the continent’s connectivity gap through satellite-based internet. Despite this expansion, Starlink continues to face major hurdles ranging from regulatory delays and high equipment costs to limited consumer access in low-income and rural areas.

Across much of the continent, the service is hampered by limited broadband infrastructure, high equipment costs, and government regulations that often delay deployment or restrict satellite operators.

In DR Congo, Starlink’s reliance on a single licensed distributor and grey-market resellers has constrained growth and access.

Semafor reports that the company’s high entry costs and device requirements make it incompatible with the realities of the Congolese market as most citizens rely on basic 2G phones, while the average smartphone costs $305 well above the African average of $201, making internet access unaffordable for many.

According to GSMA, 51% of Congolese live within mobile network coverage but remain offline, underscoring the continent’s broader problem: access is not just about infrastructure, but also affordability and regulation.

Without coordinated policies to promote device accessibility and investment incentives, Starlink and similar ventures may struggle to achieve meaningful scale in Africa’s digital landscape.