Since Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper started blowing hot about entering markets that billionaire Elon Musk has been eyeing for months, things have miraculously been falling into place for the Starlink boss.
Bad weather torpedoed Amazon’s much-frenzied Kuiper satellite launch, Lesotho was looking for a quid pro quo arrangement and has now allowed Starlink into its country, and even in South Africa, members of parliament (MPs) are torn between bringing in Musk’s Starlink internet or staying grounded with their black ownership rule.
Now, Musk is bagging wins further up the continent. On Sunday, Starlink, the satellite internet service provider (ISP) launched in Somalia—marking its 20th African country. While the ‘Horn of Africa’ isn’t exactly known for robust digital infrastructure, Starlink’s low-orbit satellite technology is tailor-made for underserved and off-grid zones.
Musk isn’t waltzing into a blank slate. Hormuud Telecom, Somalia’s telecom heavyweight, has been dominating the space for decades. The telecom operator is like Kenya’s Safaricom; it has built a massive network, moved millions of dollars through mobile money, and for $20 a month, Hormuud offers unlimited internet—something satellite ISPs dream of matching.
On the other hand, Starlink will likely charge between $110–$120 per month for its standard residential plan in Somalia, with an upfront cost of $600 for the dish and modem. This is over five times Hormuud’s price and requires a substantial initial investment, which is a major barrier in a country where most households earn about $2.15 per day. The satellite ISP has not announced any subsidised plans for Somalia.
Still, Hormuud’s about to go through a leadership shake-up, and Starlink’s timing couldn’t be better. With Musk’s deep pockets, global footprint, and X-powered hype machine, Hormuud might soon have a real fight on its hands.
With local telecoms bracing and competitors like Google’s Taara also lighting up the race, Somalia just became the next big battleground in the fight to connect Africa’s disconnected.