Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, is set to launch a ground station in Mozambique by the end of March, enhancing its capacity and reducing latency across Southern Africa. This new development marks a significant step towards improving the service’s performance in the region.
The ground station will help improve connectivity for customers across Southern Africa by facilitating backhaul connectivity to internet servers. While Starlink’s inter-satellite laser communication allows the service to reach remote areas without ground stations, it also increases latency, especially when data is transmitted between multiple satellites. Previously, Starlink users in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, experienced latency in the triple digits due to the lack of nearby ground stations.
With the addition of the Mozambique station, Starlink is expected to significantly reduce latency for roaming customers in South Africa, whose typical latency had ranged from 200ms to 300ms due to the single ground station located in Nigeria. Following the launch of a ground station in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2025, latency in Kenya dropped to an average of 23ms to 29ms. Neighboring South Sudan saw similar improvements, with pings between 39ms and 57ms.
The Mozambique ground station, located in Matola near Maputo, has already been seen under construction, with photos from Zambian Starlink kit supplier Stellar Systems showing 16 radomes designed to communicate with satellites in multiple directions. This station is not only expected to improve latency but also expand Starlink’s network capacity across Sub-Saharan Africa, potentially enabling new subscriptions in high-demand cities with limited broadband access.
In addition to improved performance, Starlink plans to reopen sign-ups for its regional roaming service, which had been paused due to capacity constraints and misuse in unsupported countries. The expansion in Mozambique is part of a broader effort to increase availability in Southern Africa, where Starlink already operates in several neighboring countries, including Zambia and Zimbabwe. Namibia and Lesotho are also expected to launch Starlink service in 2025.
Although Starlink has been offering roaming services in South Africa since 2023, its official launch has faced regulatory hurdles, particularly around the country’s Electronic Communications Act, which mandates 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged individuals. Despite these challenges, many South African businesses and remote areas have embraced Starlink as a reliable alternative to traditional broadband services.
With the addition of new ground stations, Starlink continues to expand its footprint across the African continent, recently launching in Liberia and Niger, bringing the total number of supported countries to 16.
