Uganda has granted a license to Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm ​Starlink to operate in the East African ‌country, President Yoweri Museveni said in a post on X on Friday.

Starlink, a unit of ​SpaceX, has been rapidly expanding across ​Africa and is already operating in more ⁠than a dozen countries on the ​continent, including Somalia.

Museveni said he had presided over ​the signing of an “operational licence agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission and Starlink, marking an important step ​towards the commencement of their operations ​in Uganda.”

The Uganda Communications Commission is the country’s communications ‌sector ⁠regulator.

“I am pleased that Starlink has agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service ​delivery in ​the country,” ⁠he added.

Ugandan consumers have long complained about the high cost ​and unreliability of domestic internet services, ​which ⁠some blame on limited competition in the market.

A unit of South African telecom giant ⁠MTN ​Group (MTNJ.J), opens new tab, dominates Uganda’s data ​market, competing mainly with a unit of India’s Bharti Airtel (AIRTEL.UG), opens new tab.

Source: Reuters