Starlink Saturation in Gaborone, Botswana: Service Struggles to Meet Increased Demand
In Gaborone, Botswana, Starling enthusiasts are currently on a waitlist, as the service has temporarily halted new sign-ups since late January 2025. If you've been eyeing this high-speed internet solution, you might find yourself in a pickle. When you try to purchase equipment and service through the website, you'll receive a frustrating "out of capacity" message.
To clarify matters, local Starling retailer Sefalana took to their social pages to break the news:
"WATCH OUT! Starling has reached subscription capacity in Gaborone only. Anyone attempting to purchase Starling, whether residing in Gaborone or elsewhere, will be unable to register and receive service in the city and its vicinity, like Phakalane. The service is over subscribed and maxed out for now. Starling is working on increasing capacity for Gaborone."
Unfortunately, Gaborone isn't the only African city facing this challenge. Cities like Harare, Zimbabwe; Lusaka, Zambia; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Benin City, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, Nigeria, have all hit their Starling capacity limits.
One disappointed potential customer voiced their concerns to our site: "Missed out on purchasing the kit in December, but now Gabs is at full capacity. Does Starling ever add more capacity?"
While it's tough to predict when the city will have capacity again, it's worth noting that after Harare reached its capacity in October 2024, Zimbabweans were hopeful that service would become available again by January 2025. As of February 2025, however, new subscribers are still out of luck.
But fear not! There might be a silver lining. Starlink's global licensing and activation director, Ben MacWilliams, hinted at plans for expansion during a visit by a Botswana government delegation. These plans involve operating two gateway stations in Gaborone and Lobatse, with more expansions on the horizon. Keep an eye on Starling's announcements for updates on service availability and capacity improvements in the region.
In the meantime, local ISPs like Paratus are working on competitive offerings, which might provide temporary relief for those in need of high-speed internet. So, keep your fingers crossed as you wait for Starling to expand in Gaborone!
- Due to the high demand, Gaborone isn't just experiencing a shortage with Starling's high-speed internet; cities like Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi, Accra, Lagos, Benin City, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Abuja in Africa are also facing similar issues with Starling reaching its capacity limits.
- With Starlink's global director, Ben MacWilliams, hinting at plans for expansion in Gaborone and Lobatse, there's a possibility that the capacity issue could be addressed, and Starling may soon offer relief to those in need of high-speed internet, as the company plans further expansions.
