WORLD richest man, Starlink and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has confirmed intentions to set up Starlink in Zambia following the meeting held in New York with President Hakainde Hichilema.
The confirmation comes shortly after President Hichilema held talks with Starlink Head Mr. Chad Gibbs yesterday on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York for possible consideration of providing Starlink services in Zambian.
The move is aimed at improving internet connectivities in order to provide a functional e-government and help businesses to have good quality e-commerce.
“We wish to inform you that we have held a meeting with Starlink, a firm whose focus is technology particularly Internet connectivity. As you know, we intend to quickly sort out our connectivity as this is the only way we can have a truly functional e-government of the 21st Century,” President Hichilema said on his Facebook page.
He added that his Government is working round the clock to ensure that facilities such as Technology are put to great to use so that jobs and business can be realised.
And that this was what characterised the conversation with Starlink Head Mr. Chad Gibbs.
“Additionally we all know that good connectivity will also improve productivity thereby reducing the cost of doing business,” he said.
President Hichilema further added that While in office, he will ensure that every opportunity and step we take, is done in the best interest of Zambia.
“On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, we will continue with these engagements which will ultimately lead to a better Zambia for all. Zambia is getting better and indeed will be better,” President Hichilema said.
Meanwhile Presidential Assistante Aid Jito Kayumba said on his Twitter handle that President Hichilema’s engagement with the team from SpaceX and their Starlink initiative will escalate Zambia’s position in the digital economy and enable universal access to Internet and other technologies.
Mr. Kayumba further expressed his gratitude to the visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk on his initiative to improve connectivity.
Responding to Jot Kayumba’s Tweet Starlinks and Space X founder Elon Musk said he was
looking forward to providing Starlink service to the Zambian people.
Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and many more.
The tech leading company Chief Executive officer Elon Musk made an announcement last year that Starlink planned to extend its services to African countries starting with Nigeria and Mozambique and that Starlink is expected between may and September this year Starlink to go live.
Starlink’s goal is to have about 42,000 satellites constellation in orbit by 2027. But the Federal Communications Commission and the International Telecommunication Union have approved only 12,000 of its satellites.
Leveraging advanced satellites and user hardware coupled with our deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.
