Paratus Uganda has launched Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service for enterprise customers, becoming the first provider in Uganda to offer the service following the formal licensing of Starlink.
The launch follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and operational licence agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Starlink on May 15, 2026.
The licensing ended months of regulatory uncertainty surrounding Starlink’s operations in Uganda.
In January 2026, Starlink suspended service in Uganda following a directive from the UCC over the use of its equipment without regulatory approval.
In a letter to the UCC dated January 1, 2026, Ben MacWilliams, Director for Market Access at Space Exploration Technologies Corp, said Starlink Uganda had not sold, marketed, imported or distributed Starlink terminals in Uganda.
MacWilliams said some terminals being used in the country had been purchased and activated in countries where Starlink was authorised before being imported into Uganda.
Starlink said such use was contrary to its terms of service and occurred before the completion of the regulatory licensing process.
The suspension followed a December 19, 2025 directive from the Uganda Revenue Authority restricting the importation and clearance of Starlink communication equipment unless accompanied by a clearance letter from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
The developments sparked public debate over the regulation of satellite internet services and the security implications of unauthorised communication equipment, particularly in the period leading up to Uganda’s January 2026 general elections.
With Starlink now formally licensed, Paratus Uganda says it is moving to meet demand from businesses that have been waiting for the satellite service to become legally available.
Paratus Uganda says the service will provide high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to enterprises operating in areas where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure is limited.
The company said Starlink will complement its existing connectivity services, including the 2,000-kilometre protected Goma-to-Mombasa (G2M) route, by providing an additional connectivity option for customers in remote locations.
Paratus Uganda, a joint venture between Paratus Group and Kampala-based internet service provider Roke Telkom, said it is targeting customers in sectors including mining, healthcare, tourism, non-governmental organisations and government.
Paratus Uganda Country Manager Edwin Kyambadde said the company had recorded significant demand from enterprise customers awaiting Starlink’s availability in Uganda.
“There has been significant demand for LEO services from enterprise customers who have been waiting for Starlink to become available in Uganda. Now that Starlink is licensed, the hard work begins as we connect customers across the country,” Kyambadde said in a press statement on Friday.
Kyambadde said the satellite service would complement the company’s existing network and provide connectivity to businesses operating beyond the reach of traditional infrastructure.
Paratus Group Chief Commercial Officer Martin Cox said the launch forms part of the group’s strategy to expand satellite connectivity services across Africa.
“This will be Paratus Group’s ninth country in Africa offering Starlink services,” Cox said.
He said satellite connectivity can help extend internet access to areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited, while also providing businesses with additional network resilience and faster deployment.
Paratus Uganda said the Starlink service will be integrated with the Paratus Group’s wider East and Southern African network, including its backbone infrastructure, redundancy solutions and other network services.
The company says combining satellite and terrestrial connectivity will allow enterprise customers to maintain internet access in locations where fibre and mobile networks are unavailable or unreliable.
The launch comes as Uganda seeks to expand broadband connectivity to underserved areas, with satellite technology offering an alternative for businesses and institutions operating outside the reach of conventional telecommunications infrastructure-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
