Starlink Overtakes Local ISPs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Bridging the Digital Divide or Widening it?

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, is making significant strides in delivering broadband access across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), according to a report from Ookla released on May 13, 2025. The report reveals that Starlink outperforms traditional terrestrial ISPs in speed and latency, particularly in rural areas with limited infrastructure. This raises the question of whether Starlink’s progress is contributing to a narrowing or widening of the digital divide in SSA.