Elon Musk’s Starlink, Cisco boost Rwanda’s tech expansion

Rwanda has signed new agreements with Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and U.S. tech giant Cisco to boost connectivity and digital skills across the country. The deals signal a clear effort to expand internet access and strengthen Rwanda’s technology sector.

The announcements came on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, which concluded on Sept. 29. Rwanda’s delegation, led by State Minister for ICT Yves Iradukunda, met with executives from Starlink and Cisco to outline plans for new infrastructure and training initiatives.

Starlink to launch first gateway

Under the agreements, Starlink will build its first gateway in Rwanda by the end of the year. This will connect to the country’s national fiber-optic network, extending the service to users outside major urban centers. Rwanda has already granted Starlink spectrum rights for the installation.

The new gateway will complement the company’s existing service, which already serves nearly 5,000 users in Rwanda. Officials said the focus will now turn to expanding internet access to rural communities and schools. Both sides also agreed to explore financing options with donors to support internet-based projects in health care, agriculture, and public services.

Since entering Africa in 2022, Starlink has used a constellation of satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to remote areas. Musk, whose net worth is estimated at $453 million according to Bloomberg, has said the company aims to operate in all legal markets worldwide. In 2023, Starlink secured a license from the Rwanda Space Agency and recently received regulatory approval to provide services in Lesotho, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Closing the digital gap

The latest initiative comes as Rwanda seeks to close persistent connectivity gaps. At the start of 2025, only 4.93 million people, roughly 34.2 percent of the population, were online, leaving two-thirds of Rwandans—mainly in rural areas—without internet access.

Officials said pairing Starlink’s infrastructure with Cisco’s training programs could help Rwanda improve both access and capacity, positioning the country as a regional hub for digital services in East Africa.