Businesses and institutions in remote parts of Uganda are being offered satellite internet through a partnership between MTN Uganda and Starlink, with Libra International School in Zirobwe, Luwero District, among the first customers to adopt the service.
The service combines Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite technology with MTN’s business connectivity solutions. It is intended to provide internet access in areas where fibre-optic cables and conventional mobile networks are limited, expensive or difficult to extend.
William Sekabembe, head of Libra International School, said the service had improved the school’s operations, including teaching, administration and access to learning materials.
Sekabembe said the school previously relied on fibre connectivity, which he described as unreliable at its location. He said the nearest telecommunications mast was about 50 kilometres away.
The school was paying about US$800 a month, equivalent to roughly four million shillings, for a connection that was slow and frustrating to use, he said.
Sekabembe said reliable internet was important for an international school that needed to access global education resources, communicate with partners and use online applications.
He added that the new connection was giving students more opportunities to conduct their own research.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge said young people, including students, were eager to access reliable internet. However, she cautioned that how they use the technology would influence its benefits.
The partnership adds satellite broadband to MTN’s existing mobile and fibre networks.
The companies say the service is intended for organisations in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, humanitarian response, energy, tourism, financial services and government.
The rollout comes after Starlink received an operating licence from the Uganda Communications Commission in May 2026. MTN announced its partnership with Starlink in August to provide the service in Uganda.
The companies are positioning satellite connectivity as an alternative for businesses and institutions operating in areas where conventional internet infrastructure is inadequate or costly to deploy-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
