Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The planned entry of SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink entry in The Gambia has hit another hurdle after the government delayed approval of the company’s operating license, despite payments reportedly being made for a permit in February 2026.
According to a report by Orbital Today, Gambian authorities have withheld approval over concerns relating to licensing requirements, regulatory oversight, cybersecurity, and the potential impact on local telecommunications operators.
Speaking on the issue, Minister of Digital Economy Hon. Lamin Jabbie, quoted by Orbital Today, said he refused to approve the permit application because Starlink allegedly lacked the “competencies and equipment to operate a VSAT permit,” the media revealed.
The minister explained that the company would instead require a general satellite license to legally operate in the country, suggesting that the application submitted did not correspond with the appropriate regulatory framework.
The delay has sparked debate in The Gambia over the implications of allowing the satellite internet provider to enter the local market.
Some Gambians have questioned whether the country currently possesses the technical and legal infrastructure needed to effectively regulate a satellite-based network with limited physical infrastructure inside the country.
Kebba Bojang, a director at Gamtel, also quoted by Orbital Today, raised concerns over oversight and cybersecurity enforcement.
“How could we supervise a network present in the sky above our heads, but with no infrastructure in the country?” Bojang asked, according to the report. “To whom should we complain, report, prevent, and punish acts of cybercrime?”
Others fear that Starlink’s entry into the Gambian market could threaten the survival of local internet service providers, many of which already operate in a highly competitive and economically constrained environment.
However, supporters of the company argue that Starlink could help address longstanding complaints over slow and expensive internet services in The Gambia, particularly in underserved rural communities where connectivity remains limited.
Starlink has been steadily expanding across Africa in recent years, securing operating licenses in several countries as demand for satellite-based broadband services grows.
For now, however, the company’s ambitions in The Gambia remain uncertain as authorities continue to review its licensing status and broader regulatory implications.
The report said the delay is considered temporary, with further developments expected as discussions between Starlink and Gambian authorities continue.
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