Abu Dhabi-based satellite company Space42 is preparing to expand across Africa as it seeks to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has already built a strong presence in Nigeria and 17 other African nations.
Backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, Space42 is in early talks with partners including the African Union Development Agency, Microsoft, mapping firm Esri, and other investors to scale its reach. CEO Hasan Al Hosani said the firm has already started connecting schools and clinics in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with plans to launch three additional satellites this year to add to its current eight.
Starlink maintains a significant lead with over 8,000 satellites, but Space42 is betting on strategic partnerships to close the gap. “There’s a lot of work that needs to happen locally within each country, within each nation,” Al Hosani noted, stressing the importance of government and private collaborations. He added that Africa’s youthful and growing population makes it a highly attractive market, though regulatory differences across 54 countries pose challenges.
Nigeria is expected to be a key battleground. Since its approval in 2022, Starlink has grown into Nigeria’s second-largest ISP, with 59,509 subscribers in Q1 2025 despite premium pricing. Its rise highlights the demand for reliable connectivity in underserved rural areas, where traditional telecoms still struggle.