The Supreme Court of Senegal ordered, on Monday, September 7, 2026, the provisional suspension of the authorization granted to Starlink Senegal SUARL to provide fixed internet access services by satellite. This decision follows a procedure initiated by the incumbent operator Sonatel, which is contesting the satellite supplier’s arrival on the Senegalese market.

At the heart of the dispute is Ministerial Order No. 038974 of November 6, 2025, which authorizes Starlink to operate as an internet service provider for five years, renewable. The company launched its service commercially in February 2026. Sonatel is challenging this authorization based on its status as the holder of a first-tier individual license, considering that the arrival of Starlink undermines its economic interests and competition rules.

To support its position, the operator highlights the amounts paid to the State: 100 billion CFA francs ($177 million) for the renewal of its concession and the allocation of 4G frequencies, to which 34.5 billion CFA francs are added for 5G licenses, for a total of 134.5 billion CFA francs. Sonatel also highlights its obligations in terms of territorial coverage, universal service, continuity of communications and quality of service, as well as its contributions to the Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT).

The challenge was not immediately brought to court. Sonatel had first filed a non-contentious appeal with the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs on March 10, 2026. Failing to settle the dispute in this way, the operator then appealed to the Supreme Court. According to the elements reported in Order No. 38, the pleas raised by Sonatel are likely to create a serious doubt as to the legality of the contested decision. However, this measure does not definitively settle the dispute: it suspends the authorization pending the examination of the appeal on the merits.

Starlink’s authorization was granted as part of the New Deal for Technology, launched by Senegal to accelerate digital transformation and improve coverage of the territory. In particular, the satellite service was intended to complement terrestrial networks in hard-to-serve areas. In February 2026, the authorities announced that they had negotiated the acquisition of 5,000 Starlink kits at preferential rates, with the aim of connecting to one million Senegalese, particularly in remote areas.

TheHatLady