Sudanese are increasingly anxious as the termination of the Starlink satellite internet service in their country and neighboring states looms, scheduled for the end of the current month, according to notifications by SpaceX, the operating company owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

The satellite internet service has been nearly the sole conduit for Sudanese to connect with the outside world and with each other, amidst ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces which has devastated various infrastructure sectors, foremost among them the local communication network. This has led to the disruption of mobile services on multiple occasions across several regions in the country, creating a state of isolation.

SpaceX informed its users in Sudan and a number of countries utilizing the "Regional Plan" package of the service’s termination by the end of April.

According to information from the independent fact-checking platform “Jahinah”, users of Starlink devices in “Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Congo, and South Africa”, received an email warning of the service discontinuation for subscribers of the Regional Plan by the end of the current month, citing "violation of terms and conditions of use".

Starlink relies on satellites positioned in low Earth orbit that connect with each other via an extensive network, providing high-speed internet connectivity through an antenna linked to a router and modem that enables network connection. This plays a crucial role in war-torn regions.

Subscribers received a message stating, "If you are using Starlink in an area not supported by Starlink service, you are violating our terms of use. Starting April 30, 2024, you will be unable to connect to the internet."

The company offers several internet packages, including the "Regional" package implemented on all devices in Sudan, tied to authorized countries, and the "International" package, which enables service utilization in all countries. The Regional package costs about $50-$100 monthly, while the International package costs around $200 for service reactivation.

Since February, millions of Sudanese have lived in isolation from the world due to the disruption of communication and internet services in various states, prompting thousands to purchase Starlink devices ranging between $1000 - $2000 from neighboring countries.

Internet Clubs

Residents of areas deprived of local communication and internet services, including parts of the capital, Khartoum, and states of Gezira, Kordofan, and Darfur, face significant challenges in communication and accessing their needs, including banking app transactions, as most bank branches have ceased operations since the war began over a year ago.

Ali Ibrahim (pseudonym), a Starlink user, told Middle East that the service termination would isolate them from the world, causing significant harm. "We rely on these devices for receiving and sending money transfers through financial apps to our families; bank branches have not been operational since the outbreak of the war,” he explained. Many travel long distances to access a Starlink device for financial transactions or to communicate with their families amid war risks.

Several Sudanese opened "Internet Clubs" offering paid Starlink services to residents of their areas, charging about 3,000 Sudanese pounds (approximately more than two dollars) per hour.

The owner of an internet club in South Darfur, who requested anonymity, told Middle East, "If the service stops, so does our livelihood, and citizens will be cut off from their families and possibly unable to buy their daily necessities, as they rely on banking apps for sending and receiving money from abroad or other parts of Sudan."

Official Ban

The army and Rapid Support Forces exchange accusations over the responsibility for disrupting local communication and internet services. The governmental Telecommunications Authority, aligned with the army, claims Rapid Support Forces interrupted services at the telecommunications companies “Zain, Sudani, MTN,” forcing technicians to halt operations.

Conversely, the Rapid Support Forces accuse the army of ordering the service disruption in areas under their control, particularly in the states of Darfur and Kordofan, besides numerous disruptions due to power outages, fuel shortages, or sabotage.

Former American diplomat specializing in African affairs, Cameron Hudson, commented on X platform, "The Sudanese government requested SpaceX to block its services in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces militia, but the company did not comply."

The Sudanese Telecommunications Authority bans the use of satellite internet devices in Sudan, considering their use illegal. A decision issued on January 31st last year prohibits the import, use, and possession of Starlink devices or any other providing similar services, with violations subject to legal consequences.

Following the ban, authorities seized thousands of devices in areas under army control, though enforcement varies, with services widely used in Rapid Support Forces-controlled regions.

Since the 2019 popular revolution that overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir’s regime, Sudanese authorities have used communication and internet as weapons against peaceful protestors, a blatant violation of the right to freedom of communication. With the outbreak of war, services were disrupted (or disconnected) across vast areas of the country, especially in its west and center.