By Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency satellite internet is officially available in Uganda, opening another option for households, businesses and organisations, particularly in areas where reliable conventional broadband remains difficult to access.
The timing is significant for a country increasingly dependent on digital connectivity for work, education, business and communication.
Families can communicate more reliably. Businesses can be managed across borders. Diaspora Ugandans can collaborate with people at home without connectivity constantly getting in the way.
However, the cost of equipment and monthly subscriptions could put the service beyond the reach of many ordinary households, meaning early users are likely to include businesses, organisations and higher-income consumers.
Its arrival could nevertheless put pressure on existing internet providers to improve their services, expand coverage and compete on quality and price.
For a country whose young population is increasingly working, learning, trading and creating online, reliable internet is no longer simply a luxury.
