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\n The satellite internet service became operational on July 18, according to Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, months after the government granted Starlink an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence in February.
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\n The approval allows the company to offer broadband services across the Indian Ocean archipelago\u2019s 115 islands.
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\n Unlike many of Starlink\u2019s African launches, however, Seychelles is already among the continent\u2019s most digitally connected countries.
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\n According to DataReportal, about 87.4% of the country\u2019s population was using the internet by the end of 2025, supported by widespread mobile broadband and fibre-based internet services.
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\n The International Telecommunication Union also ranks Seychelles among Africa\u2019s most affordable mobile internet markets, with a 5GB data plan costing just 1.43% of gross national income per capita.
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\n That means Starlink is entering a market where the challenge is less about bringing people online for the first time and more about improving connectivity quality, reliability and coverage.
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\n Its low-Earth orbit satellite network could prove valuable for remote islands, tourism operators, maritime businesses, schools and enterprises that need reliable internet beyond existing terrestrial infrastructure.
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\n Starlink\u2019s African strategy is changing
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\n Seychelles also reflects a broader shift in Starlink\u2019s expansion strategy across Africa.
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\n When the company entered Nigeria in early 2023, its first African market, it largely targeted underserved communities struggling with slow or unreliable broadband.
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\n Within two years, Starlink had become one of Nigeria\u2019s fastest-growing internet service providers, forcing traditional operators to respond with network upgrades and more competitive broadband offerings.
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\n Kenya has followed a similar path. Starlink quickly gained subscribers seeking faster internet, particularly outside major cities.
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\n Demand became so strong that the company temporarily suspended new residential subscriptions in parts of Nairobi and neighbouring counties while expanding network capacity.
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\n More recently, Starlink has expanded into countries including Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo as governments seek to improve digital connectivity and support growing digital economies.
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\n Seychelles, however, represents a different opportunity.
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\n Rather than filling a major connectivity gap, Starlink is positioning itself as an additional broadband provider in a country that already enjoys relatively high internet access.
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\n The company is expected to compete on network resilience, speed and coverage rather than basic availability.
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\n Regulatory hurdles remain
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\n Starlink\u2019s expansion across Africa has not been without setbacks.
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\n South Africa, Elon Musk\u2019s birth country and one of Africa\u2019s largest telecommunications markets, remains one of the company\u2019s biggest missed opportunities.
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\n Starlink has yet to secure approval because of local ownership requirements under South Africa\u2019s telecom licensing framework, creating a prolonged regulatory standoff.
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\n The delay has allowed competitors to position themselves in the market. Amazon\u2019s Project Kuiper recently announced plans to enter South Africa through a partnership with local broadband provider Herotel, marking one of the first significant competitive moves against Starlink on the continent.
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\n The company has also faced regulatory challenges in markets such as Namibia, where licensing requirements delayed commercial operations even as neighbouring countries accelerated approvals.
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\n Competition is heating up
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\n Starlink\u2019s arrival also introduces another competitor into Seychelles\u2019 broadband market.
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\n Operators such as Airtel already provide home broadband, enterprise fibre connectivity and dedicated internet services.
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\n Starlink will need to differentiate itself through nationwide satellite coverage, particularly for customers spread across the country\u2019s widely dispersed islands.
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\n The launch also comes as competition in low-Earth orbit satellite internet intensifies globally.
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\n Besides Starlink, Amazon\u2019s Project Kuiper is beginning international deployments, while Eutelsat OneWeb continues targeting governments, businesses and enterprise customers with satellite connectivity solutions.
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\n For African governments, growing competition among satellite operators could improve broadband access and create more choices for consumers.
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\n But it also raises new regulatory questions around spectrum management, licensing and the growing role of foreign-owned satellite infrastructure in national communications networks.
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\n For Starlink, Seychelles may be one of its smallest African markets by population. Yet its expansion into one of the continent\u2019s best-connected countries suggests the company\u2019s ambitions are no longer limited to bridging Africa\u2019s digital divide, they are increasingly focused on competing across every segment of the broadband market.
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