full breakdown by country (March 2025)

Starlink has made significant strides in its expansion across Africa. As of early 2025, the satellite internet service is confirmed to be operational in many countries, demonstrating its commitment to the African market. The first African nation to embrace Starlink was Nigeria in January 2023. Since then, the service has rapidly expanded its reach to include: 

• Benin (November 2023)
• Botswana (August 2024)
• Burundi (operational following license approval in March 2025)
• Cape Verde (December 2024)
• Eswatini (December 2023) 
• Ghana (August 2024)
• Kenya (July 2023)
• Madagascar (June 2024)
• Malawi (July 2023)
• Mozambique (June 2023)
• Niger (March 2025)
• Rwanda (February 2023)
• Sierra Leone (June 2024)
• South Sudan (August 2024)
• Zambia (October 2023)
• Zimbabwe (September 2024). 

This rapid deployment across diverse African nations underscores Starlink’s aggressive strategy to tap into the continent’s growing demand for high-speed internet.

Looking ahead to 2025, Starlink has indicated plans for further expansion. Namibia is one country where a launch is anticipated later in the year. However, the path to operation is not always straightforward. In Lesotho, for instance, while Starlink has gone live in several neighbouring Southern African countries like Eswatini, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, there are no confirmations regarding a launch date. Similarly, South Africa presents a unique case. Despite being the birthplace of Starlink’s founder, Elon Musk, and a significant economy on the continent, Starlink faces substantial regulatory hurdles related to local ownership requirements. South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies mandate that foreign-owned telecommunications licensees allocate at least 30% equity to historically disadvantaged groups. This requirement has been a point of contention, with Starlink yet to meet these conditions for operation in the country.

Starlink price: country-by-country breakdown in Africa (2025)

The cost of Starlink services in Africa varies across different countries, reflecting many factors. Below is a detailed breakdown of the pricing information available for each operational country in 2025.

Benin: 

The hardware cost for Starlink in Benin is reported to be approximately $650 – $700, which translates to around 400,000 FCFA to 415,000 CFA. The monthly subscription fee ranges from $47 – $50, or 30,000 FCFA to $47.12. Additionally, there is a shipping and handling fee of approximately $24 (15,000 FCFA). These figures suggest that the initial investment for Starlink in Benin is relatively substantial, while the monthly cost aligns with a premium internet service.

Botswana: 

In Botswana, the hardware cost is reported to be between $359 and $363. Paratus Africa, an authorised reseller, lists the standard kit at P5,000 and the Mini kit at P400. Monthly subscription fees vary depending on the plan. Reports indicate a range of $28 – $52. Paratus offers Residential Lite at P400 per month and Residential at P688 per month. For businesses, Paratus provides Priority Service plans ranging from BWP 1,230 (for 40GB) to BWP 8,950 (for 6TB), all on a 36-month contract. Mobile Priority Service plans for businesses start at BWP 15,745 for 50GB, also under a 36-month contract. These tiered offerings indicate a strategy to cater to individual and business needs with varying data requirements.

Burundi: 

While specific pricing details directly from Starlink for Burundi are somewhat limited, one source indicates that residents will pay $299 for standard hardware or $599 for the mini version. Monthly service costs range from $50 for 50 GB to $165 for unlimited data. Another source lists the hardware starlink price at KSh 70,000, approximately $437, based on current exchange rates. This suggests a hardware cost of $300 to $600, with monthly subscriptions starting at $50.

Cape Verde: 

Starlink officially launched in Cape Verde in December 2024. The hardware cost is reported as CVE 39,000, approximately $373, with the Mini dish available for CVE 20,000, or $191. Subscription plans include a Residential Plan at CVE 5,000 per month ($48), offering standard connectivity, and a Residential Lite Plan at CVE 3,500 per month ($34), providing a more affordable option with deprioritised unlimited data. The availability of standard and lite options caters to different user needs and budgets.

Eswatini: 

In Eswatini, the residential service costs R950 per month, with an additional R120 per month for a “regulatory fee”. The residential-grade dish kit costs R12,000, with shipping and handling costing an extra R450. For business users, the high-end hardware costs R54,625 (plus R1,000 for shipping and handling), and priority connectivity pricing starts at R2,185 per month for 1TB of priority traffic. Converting these to USD at an approximate exchange rate of $1 = 18 ZAR (South African Rand), the residential monthly cost is around $53 + $7 regulatory fee, the hardware is approximately $667, and business plans start at around $121 per month.

Ghana: 

Starlink’s official operations in Ghana began by the end of August 2024. The residential service is priced at GH₵770 per month, with a hardware cost of GH₵5,390. Another source indicates a monthly fee of GH₵500 for Residential Lite. Converting to USD at an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 14.5 GH₵, the standard residential monthly cost is around $53, the hardware is approximately $372, and the Residential Lite monthly cost is about $34. These prices position Starlink as a premium internet option in the Ghanaian market.

Kenya: 

Starlink offers its residential service in Kenya for Ksh4,000 per month for Residential Lite and Ksh6,500 per month for the standard Residential plan, with a hardware cost of Ksh49,900. Using an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 128 Ksh, the Residential Lite monthly cost is about $31, the standard Residential monthly cost is around $51, and the hardware cost is approximately $390. These prices appear to be more competitive compared to some other African markets.

Read more: Starlink suspends new subscriptions in Nairobi due to network overload

Madagascar: 

Pricing information for Madagascar indicates a monthly fee of around $28 – $50 and a hardware cost of $250 – $378. One Reddit user mentioned a Mini option at $30/month and a kit cost of $200. These figures suggest a relatively affordable entry point for Starlink in Madagascar compared to other African nations.

Malawi: 

Starlink’s residential service in Malawi starts from MK94,000 per month, with a hardware cost reported to be around MK655,000 – MK681,500. Using an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 1700 MKW, the monthly starlink price is around $55, and the hardware cost is approximately $385. Some sources also mention a monthly fee of $30 – $40.

Mozambique: 

Pricing in Mozambique appears to have some regional variations. For most of the country, the residential monthly fee is around MZN 3,000 (approximately $47), but in Maputo and Matola, new users might face a waiting list for residential packages or have to opt for a global data priority package at a significantly higher cost of around MZN 74,035 per month (over $1000). The hardware cost is around MZN 42,022 (approximately $656 – $700). A Roam Unlimited plan is also mentioned at MZN, which is 6,000 per month (around $94).

Niger: 

Starlink officially launched in Niger in March 2025. While specific pricing details for Niger were not widely available in the provided snippets, given its recent launch, it is expected that pricing would be in line with other West African nations like Nigeria or Benin.

Nigeria: 

Starlink’s pricing in Nigeria has seen some fluctuations. Initially, the standard service plan cost NGN38,000 per month with a hardware cost of NGN440,000. However, the monthly subscription starlink price has since increased to NGN75,000. The hardware cost has also risen to NGN590,000. Using an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 1540 NGN, the current monthly fee is around $49, and the hardware cost is approximately $383. Roaming plans are also available at higher prices.

Rwanda: 

In Rwanda, the hardware cost is reported to be around RWF 485,000 (approximately $377), and the monthly subscription is around RWF 48,000 (roughly $36). These figures suggest a relatively affordable monthly cost compared to other African countries.

Sierra Leone: 

Starlink service in Sierra Leone costs NLe1,020.00 per month, with hardware priced at NLe7,860.00 and shipping & handling at NLe517.00. Using an approximate exchange rate of $1 = 25.5 NLe, the monthly cost is around $40, the hardware is approximately $308, and shipping is about $20. Customers are also required to register with Starlink.

South Sudan: 

Starlink offers four pricing plans in South Sudan, ranging from $38.19 to $5,005.40 monthly. The standard hardware kit costs $296.67, and the Flat High-Performance Kit costs $2,502.70. Customers must register and pay in South Sudanese pounds based on agreed USD rates.

Zambia: 

The residential service in Zambia costs K800 per month for Residential Lite and K1,160 per month for the standard Residential plan. The hardware cost is reported to be around K1,600 – K2,500. Using an approximate exchange rate of $1 = 25 ZMW, the Residential Lite monthly cost is around $32, the standard Residential monthly cost is about $46, and the hardware cost is approximately $64 – $100.

Zimbabwe: 

Starlink’s residential service in Zimbabwe costs $50 per month for unlimited data, with a hardware cost of $350. A more affordable Starlink Mini option is available for $30 per month with a $200 hardware cost. Installment payments are now available for the Mini kit.

Namibia: 

While not officially launched, information suggests that the Starlink Roam plan might be relevant for Namibia, with a hardware cost of $599 and a monthly service fee of $200 for Global Roam or $150 for Regional Roam.

Read more on Starlink:

Factors influencing starlink price in Africa

A complex interplay of several factors influences the variation in Starlink’s pricing across African countries. They are:

Regulatory environment

• Licensing and regulations vary by country.
• Some governments favour local telecoms, creating higher barriers for Starlink.
• Compliance costs can impact pricing.

Import duties and taxes

• Starlink kits (dish and router) are imported and subject to local tax policies.
• Countries like Nigeria and Kenya impose tariffs and VAT on imports, affecting final costs.

Market competition

• In countries with fewer high-speed internet options, Starlink may charge higher prices.
• In competitive markets, Starlink adopts aggressive pricing to attract users.
• Starlink’s plans are cheaper than those of some leading ISPs in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.

Economic factors

• Pricing is adjusted based on income levels and purchasing power.
• Wealthier nations may have different pricing structures than lower-income countries.

Operational costs & infrastructure

• Starlink invests in local ground stations (Points of Presence) to improve network performance.
• Infrastructure and operational expenses influence service costs.

Final thoughts

In summary, Starlink price across Africa in 2025 reveals a nuanced strategy that considers various local factors. There is considerable variation in hardware costs and monthly subscription fees from country to country. Regulatory environments, import duties, the competitive landscape of existing ISPs, and the economic conditions within each nation all appear to play a role in determining the final starlink price for consumers. While the upfront cost of the hardware can be a significant investment, the monthly subscription fees in many African countries are becoming increasingly competitive, particularly when considering the high speeds and potential for reliable connectivity in underserved areas.