(Business in Cameroon) – A delegation from Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, met with Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, on June 27, 2025. Sources familiar with the meeting said discussions focused on the official process for establishing Starlink’s operations in the country.
Starlink had suspended its services in Cameroon in April 2024. This followed government concerns over data security and anti-competitive practices. Despite lacking formal authorization, the service had been accessible through loopholes.
“Users in countries where Starlink wasn’t officially licensed would buy and register their dishes in authorized countries, then subscribe to the roaming service. This allowed them to use Starlink elsewhere,” explained tech entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong. Although Starlink’s terms limited roaming to two months, the rule went unenforced until SpaceX announced it would begin applying the restriction as of April 30, 2024.
Cameroonian authorities responded with strong regulatory warnings. The Director General of Customs wrote on April 15, 2024, “My attention has been drawn to numerous cases of imported Starlink telecommunications equipment. This type of gear, which enables ultra-fast and unlimited internet access, escapes the oversight of the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART) and could compromise national security.” The letter reminded customs officials that all telecom transmission equipment imports require ART approval and ordered the systematic seizure of unauthorized Starlink hardware at borders.
The recent talks in Yaounde signal a potential breakthrough for Starlink’s official deployment in Cameroon. This is especially significant given that since February 2025, French telecom giant Orange, which dominates Cameroon’s mobile and internet market alongside South Africa’s MTN, has partnered with Musk’s firm to support Starlink’s rollout across the African continent. This collaboration could pave the way for Starlink’s formal entry into the Cameroonian market.
Written in French by BRM,
Translated and adapted into English by Mouka Mezonlin
