The satellite internet service combines Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit technology with MTN Uganda’s local support to help businesses and institutions in underserved areas access reliable connectivity.
MTN Uganda has launched MTN Starlink for Business, a satellite internet service aimed at improving connectivity for businesses and institutions in remote and underserved areas across the country.
The service was unveiled at Libra International School in Zirobwe, Luweero District, where unreliable and expensive internet had affected teaching, online research, school administration and communication.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge, who presided over the launch, said the initiative would expand access to reliable connectivity by combining Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite technology with MTN’s local implementation, account management and customer support.
“At MTN, we believe that where you are located should not determine how far you can go. Through our partnership with Starlink, we are combining Low-Earth-Orbit satellite technology with MTN’s local implementation, account management and customer support to serve enterprises in remote, underserved and hard-to-reach areas,” Mulinge said.
She said the service would complement MTN’s existing connectivity solutions, allowing organisations to use satellite internet as their primary connection, as a backup for existing services or where connectivity needs to be established quickly.
Mulinge also urged students at Libra International School to use the internet responsibly, encouraging them to remain curious and apply the information they access online to their learning and personal development.
She commended the school for equipping learners with vocational skills, including cosmetology and computer skills, to prepare them for future opportunities.
Libra International School Director William Sekabembe said the institution had struggled to secure reliable internet because of its location outside major urban centres, despite investing in alternative solutions.
“Connectivity was a major challenge for us because we are an international school focused on using technology to improve learning. We tried different solutions, including boosters, but they were not efficient enough for our needs. The interventions were also expensive,” Sekabembe said.
He said the new connection had improved access to online learning resources, communication with parents and the operation of the school’s examination and management systems.
“Ever since we started the proof of concept with Starlink through MTN, it has really been a big milestone for us. The students can do their research much more easily, and communication with parents has improved because now it is just at the click of a button,” he said.
Sekabembe added that the connection serves the entire campus, including computer rooms, enabling teachers and students to use digital learning tools more effectively.
MTN Uganda said the service targets organisations in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, tourism, mining, energy, construction and humanitarian operations, particularly those operating beyond the reach of conventional connectivity infrastructure.
The company said satellite connectivity could support communication between remote teams, access to cloud-based systems, digital service delivery and business continuity, depending on each organisation’s needs and location.
The launch forms part of MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which seeks to expand digital solutions and support greater participation in the digital economy.
MTN Starlink for Business adds to the company’s existing portfolio of mobile, fibre, managed network and other digital connectivity services.