Now that Starlink’s high-speed internet is here, let’s focus

After securing requisite regulatory approval, billionaire Elon Musk's high-speed satellite internet venture, Starlink, finally launched in Rwanda on Wednesday, February 22. For a country that, among others, is aiming to increase income and opportunity, in addition to achieving upper-middle-income status by 2035 and high-income status by 2050, this is a big coup. On Wednesday, Rwanda became the first country in the region to offer Starlink's services, which are provided through advanced, low-orbit satellites, making its internet even faster. With the launch, Rwandans will now easily get high-speed, low-latency satellite internet service with download speeds between 100 megabits per second and 200 megabits per second (Mbps). Satellite-based internet provided by Starlink is about three times faster than what was previously available on the Rwandan market, at almost the same price, according to the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. The service costs Rwf48,000 per month. A customer is initially expected to pay Rwf572,000 for hardware, bringing the total cost of the package to roughly over Rwf600,000. For a youthful country – about 70% of its population is under 30 years old – that aspires to be a tech hub, having internet that is about three times faster than what was previously available will go a long way in building digital capacities with a progressive social impact. The Internet is now a vital part of nearly all businesses, and homes, and high-speed internet will not only inspire creativity and innovation country wide. It will promote the use of ICT in development especially by enabling the country’s youth to leverage technology to build a knowledge-based economy. Besides increased productivity, high-speed Internet now offers cost savings to our businesses through increased productivity, provides protection against cybercrime and offers several other security advantages, in addition to lowering stress levels. But we must, now, focus and make things happen.

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Now that Starlink’s high-speed internet is here, let’s focus