SpaceX Partners with Jumia to Expand Starlink Services in Africa
Summary:
Billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX is teaming up with e-commerce company Jumia Technologies to bring satellite broadband services to Africa. Jumia will sell Starlink’s satellite terminals and other kits in several African countries, with the initial launch set for Nigeria. This partnership allows Jumia to be the first to distribute Starlink kits on the continent. The aim is to provide fast-speed internet services to areas in Africa that lack formal addresses and city mapping. Telecom network operators have traditionally been the main providers of broadband in Africa, but the infrastructure rollout in remote regions has proven challenging. Previous attempts by big tech companies, such as Facebook and Google, to provide high-speed internet in Africa have fallen short. Starlink’s network of small satellites connected to user terminals shows promise in bridging the connectivity gap. However, the high cost of a standard Starlink terminal may be a deterrent. Jumia plans to expand sales of Starlink products to all 11 African countries in which it operates.
Sources:
– Bloomberg LP
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