Since its initial launch in 2019 by SpaceX, run by Elon Musk, Starlink has changed the availability of the internet across the world significantly.
Its user base, which stands at more than eight million consumers working across 150 countries, offers a cheaper and more efficient alternative to the traditional broadband services to an 8 million-strong stream of users.
The rapid expansion of the service challenges deeply rooted infrastructure paradigms especially in localities that are underserved and geographically remote.
Power of Political Connections
Elon Musk, through his relationships with U.S. President Donald Trump, was of benefit to the development of Starlink.
Blair Levin who served as the former chief of staff at the Federal Communications Commission commented that the Trump administration would favor Musk provided they maintained a good relationship with him.
“There were [American] government officials, whether authorized or not, who were basically saying, if you want favorable treatment from Trump, you better be good to Musk,”
Blair Levin Said who led the Obama administration’s National Broadband Plan and was formerly chief of staff with the Federal Communications Commission.
This political privilege helped Starlink overcome regulatory barriers and make a superior international footprint.
A Lifeline in Crisis
Starlink performs well in markets with prohibitive broadband prices or limited infrastructure. As of January 2025, the service is cheaper than the major fixed-wire providers in at least five African countries.
A sell-out of Starlink kits in Zimbabwe occurred at a rapid rate several weeks into release, which highlights the demand in areas where low speeds and interruptions are more probable.
In a dramatic reshaping of Zimbabwe’s internet landscape, Starlink has emerged as the dominant player in international bandwidth usage, accounting for a staggering 83% of the country’s total in Q1 2025.
The company has risen to become a leading figure in Nigeria that has created tension with the domestic internet service providers.
Bolivia had banned Starlink, but the demand has found a way to acquire equipment illegally; the prohibition has been lifted due to a change of government.
Starlink has supported opposition groups and humanitarian efforts in Myanmar in the event of internet interference by the government.
Future Outlook
Starlink offers affordability, coverage and political leverage and serves as the best alternative internet provider in the world, regardless of domestically-based competitors and escalating competition.
Its continued role in helping to close digital gaps is bound to meet regulations and geopolitical obstacles; however, the tidal wave of the globalization of satellite internet is unstoppable.
