Cameroon moves to approve Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet

Cameroon is moving closer to officially allowing Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, to provide services in the country, following a similar move in Namibia. The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART) has submitted a draft concession agreement and technical specifications for Starlink Cameroun Sarl to the relevant supervisory authority.

The update was included in the 2025 budget review presented by Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Minette Libom Li Likeng to the National Assembly’s Budget and Finance Committee.

Licensing review underway

The submission comes as Namibia reviews Starlink’s license applications, signaling regional attention on Musk’s satellite service. In Namibia, the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) published Starlink’s license applications in the government’s Official Gazette on Nov. 28 and invited public comment for two weeks.

According to Minister Li Likeng, forwarding the draft agreement to the technical supervisory body begins the official process for granting a concession, allowing Starlink to serve end users. The step follows renewed negotiations between the Cameroonian government and Starlink earlier this year.

Past suspensions and renewed talks 

A Starlink delegation met the minister on June 27, 2025, to discuss formally establishing operations. The talks follow a suspension of services in April 2024, after the company restricted global roaming in response to its two-month limit on users outside approved countries. 

Before the suspension, Starlink had been accessible in Cameroon through indirect registrations in countries where the service was licensed. Authorities repeatedly warned against unapproved Starlink hardware, and on April 15, 2024, the Director General of Customs instructed border services to seize any equipment lacking regulatory approval. 

Renewed discussions align with broader regional activity. Since February 2025, French telecom operator Orange has partnered with SpaceX to support Starlink’s expansion in Africa, making Cameroon a likely market for formal entry. The government says regulatory procedures are ongoing to standardize the company’s presence.

Starlink expands satellite internet across Africa

Starlink, which began serving parts of Africa in 2022, primarily targets regions without reliable fiber or mobile networks. The service’s geolocation-based restrictions in April 2024 followed government requests to block unlicensed use. 

Musk, whose net worth Bloomberg estimates at $462 million, has stated the company aims to operate wherever legally permitted. Starlink recently received approval in Lesotho, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and partnered with Cisco in Rwanda to expand connectivity and train workers for the digital economy. 

The submission of the concession documents now places the decision with Cameroon’s technical supervisory authorities, potentially opening the door for Starlink’s official launch in the country.