The news:
- TD Africa, a Nigerian IT and lifestyle product distributor, has secured a partnership with Starlink to become its “first distributor in Africa.”
- Per a press statement issued in Lagos on February 7, 2024, the technology distribution firm says the agreement to distribute Starlink kits represents significant progress towards making internet connectivity available to Nigerians and everyone in Africa.
- This new collaboration joins the company's existing distributor partnerships, which include brands such as HP, Microsoft, Apple, Dell Technologies, Huawei, Lenovo, Tecno, Infinix, Nokia, and Samsung.
Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency Internet to users in more than 70 markets globally, including the seven markets it operates in across Africa. This partnership intends to boost Internet access in Africa, particularly in remote homes and businesses.
Per TD Africa, it plans to close the digital divide and eventually advance economic growth across the continent by leveraging Starlink's unique selling points, which include high-speed connectivity, low latency, wide coverage, and scalability.
However, the ongoing ban in countries like Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe might hinder this plan, although it’s not clear to what extent.
Founded in 2000, the technology dealer claims to represent over 27 multinational companies in Africa and to be a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider in 47 African countries.
On this development, TD Africa's Coordinating Managing Director, Chioma Chimere, emphasised the alignment between TD Africa's extensive experience as a tech and business solutions distributor in Africa and Starlink's mission to transform global internet access.
Chimere reiterated TD Africa's Africa-focused mission to provide “accessible, affordable, and usable Internet solutions to individuals and businesses.”
On September 22, 2023, Paratus Group announced that it had entered into a reseller agreement with Starlink to supply the internet solution kits to customers in African nations where the internet solution has been approved, including Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria.
Also, on October 2, 2023, African eCommerce platform Jumia disclosed its collaboration with Starlink to retail the satellite Internet service kit on the continent.
