Rwanda: SpaceX Gets Operations License From Rwandan Space Agency
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Loading... - Deborah Kalisa
- 23 Feb 2023
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BMA has learnt that SpaceX, the spacecraft manufacturer and satellite communications company led by Elon Musk, has received a license from the Rwanda Space Agency to launch its Internet and high-speed connectivity service, Starlink, in Rwanda.
According to the company, the operation will commence in April 2023; the anticipated launch of the satellite Internet service builds on the momentum of its recent launch in Nigeria.
With the potential to provide much-needed connectivity to millions of people across the country, including those in remote and underserved areas, it is poised to be a game-changer.
Francis Ngabo, CEO of Rwanda Space Agency, announced that granting SpaceX’s Starlink the license to operate in Rwanda marks a new milestone in the country’s journey to leverage space capabilities for national progress.
Emphasizing that the planned Starlink launch is in line with Rwanda’s goal of achieving universal broadband network coverage, Ngabo stated that this alignment would contribute to international connectivity redundancy and near-universal broadband coverage, utilizing space capabilities for national development.
In addition to the high speed and reliability of the service, Ngabo expressed confidence in its potential to positively impact citizens and businesses and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
SpaceX also plans to launch its satellite Internet service in Tanzania in the first quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval. The service will be available in Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania, and four other cities across the country. Read More…
