Starlink Rolls Out New Ground Station in Mozambique for Faster Internet

Expanding in Africa hasn’t been easy for Starlink—regulations have thrown plenty of hurdles in its way. But that hasn’t stopped the company from making moves. Its latest? A new ground station in Mozambique that could give Southern Africa a much-needed internet boost.

At first glance, this might not seem like a game-changer, but for users in the region, it could make a huge difference in internet speed and reliability. Right now, Starlink users in countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe experience higher latency—sometimes between 200ms and 300ms—because their data has to travel to the closest ground station in Nigeria. While Starlink’s inter-satellite laser communication is impressive, having a nearby ground station would make a big difference.

We saw this happen when Starlink launched a ground station in Kenya earlier this year proving just how impactful this can be. If Mozambique sees similar results, Southern African users can expect a much smoother experience, whether they’re gaming, streaming, or handling business operations.

This expansion also comes at a time when Starlink continues to face regulatory roadblocks in South Africa. While the company doesn’t yet have a license to operate there, many users access the service through roaming plans. The Mozambique station indirectly helps these users by improving connectivity and lowering lag.

Compared to competitors like OneWeb and Amazon’s upcoming Project Kuiper, Starlink remains the leader in satellite internet, particularly in Africa, operating in 19 out of 54 countries. With more ground stations popping up, it’s clear that Starlink isn’t just expanding—it’s solidifying its hold on the continent’s internet infrastructure.

Starlink has said the Mozambique station should go live in late March. So, dear Southern Africans, hold on just a little longer—soon, "my game was lagging" won’t be a valid excuse for losing.