Rwanda schools to get Starlink internet
Rwanda will prioritise education institutions in its plan to roll out low-cost internet delivered by Starlink, an internet initiative owned by SpaceX, a company founded by US billionaire Elon Musk, local New Times site reports.
Hundreds of schools in Rwanda will be connected next month in a pilot, said Paula Ingabire, the country’s minister of ICT and innovation.
“We are going to start with at least 500 schools so that at least such internet will be tested, and distributed there,” she said.
Starlink operates more than 3,000 small satellites in low earth orbit, they can can deliver internet speeds of up to 200 megabits a second (mbps).
Ms Ingabire said Starlink would increase competition amongst internet service providers and estimated that users could pay $44 (£36) a month for speeds of up to 150 mbps.
Rwanda’s internet speed averages to about 52 mpbs, among the fastest on the continent.
Rwanda schools to get Starlink internetMinister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire: Schools are among #Rwanda-n institutions given priority to benefit from Elon Musk’s high-speed satellite internet, Starlink.
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) February 14, 2023
“The initial plan is to pilot it in at least 500 schools.”http://t.co/mLqqM1Vdjw