Bridging the Digital Divide: Our Work With Starlink

Welcome to Institute Insights, where TBI experts bring to life our work helping political leaders drive change that transforms lives.

In this instalment, we focus on our Tomorrow Partnership work bringing innovators and governments together to provide tech solutions that drive prosperity. We’re spotlighting our collaboration with Starlink and the governments of Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia to provide high-speed satellite internet to educational institutions, medical facilities and public servants.?

We also cover TBI Strategic Counsellor and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s visit to TBI’s Brussels office last week as she gave her backing to Ukraine and Moldova in their bids for European Union membership.

Working With Starlink to Connect Communities

Connectivity can change lives. It can expand students’ horizons, make health care more accessible and catalyse new businesses. Yet one in three people globally has no access to the internet.??

At TBI, I manage partnerships with tech innovators aimed at getting communities online to help governments build a thriving digital future for their people. We work with leaders and policymakers to ensure the solutions we present can be implemented in their countries not just in the immediate term but as a sustainable, long-term answer. So far, we’ve launched five pilot projects across three countries with Starlink, a provider of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet, to test use cases for government services.??

LEO satellite internet – while not without challenges – is a flexible option that can be implemented quickly. Engaging with innovators in this exciting, expanding sector means we can help governments harness the benefits of technology for citizens.??

Through our pilot projects, I’ve witnessed the profound impact connectivity can bring to citizens in Rwanda and Malawi, from giving students access to digital learning resources to bringing telemedicine to the most rural communities.??

By bringing innovators and policymakers together, TBI is taking important steps to help countries achieve their connectivity goals.?

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Starlink in Rwanda: Driving Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy

High-quality and affordable internet connectivity has the potential to increase economic growth and household incomes. Rwanda is aiming to become a globally competitive knowledge-based economy, as outlined in its Vision 2050 strategy; one of the ways to achieve this objective is to enhance internet affordability and access, as well as improve digital literacy. The goal is to provide internet connectivity to all schools in Rwanda by 2024.??

While Rwanda has 95 per cent 4G coverage and a broadband fibre backbone in all major cities, some areas of the country are hard to reach using these technologies at an affordable cost and in a way that delivers reliability.??

In October 2022, the government published the Revised National Broadband Policy, which opened the door to innovations such as low-Earth orbit satellite internet to encourage the wider adoption of alternative broadband internet technologies in hard-to-reach areas. In February 2023, Starlink was launched in Rwanda.??

Since then, TBI has worked with the Rwandan government to provide internet connectivity to 50 schools in mostly hard-to-reach areas. More than 15,000 students gained access to the internet and the opportunities it provides, after an implementation phase that was less than three months long. The overall cost, efficiency and speed of implementation demonstrated the power of using innovative approaches to solve connectivity challenges.??

The 50-schools project with Starlink has empowered teachers by providing access to additional educational tools, such as virtual laboratories to deliver science lessons. Teachers can more easily communicate with peers, share educational content and build relationships across local and even international schools. Administrators can submit school data digitally, enabling data-driven decision-making. Students are also able to use the internet to conduct research, interact with other students locally and globally and improve their digital skills. In some of the schools, the wider community is also benefitting from internet access. Building on this project, TBI is now working with the Rwandan government to roll out Starlink in health centres.?

TBI works closely with governments based on long-term relationships that enable us to understand a country’s root challenges and priorities. This allows us to tailor our offerings to local contexts and help policymakers to deliver their intended outcomes – such as supporting economic development by increasing people’s access to the internet.

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Contributors: Alex Muriuki and Patrick Karanja

TBI Update: The Future of Ukraine and Moldova in the European Union?

TBI Strategic Counsellor and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave her backing to Ukraine and Moldova in their bids for EU membership during a trip to Brussels last week. ?

Marin was joined by EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov for a panel discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities for both countries on their journeys towards joining the bloc. ?She also held meetings with five European Commissioners, as well as with President of the European Council Charles Michel and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.??

TBI is working to support the governments of Ukraine and Moldova in a range of areas, including in their effort to join the EU.??

“The visit was a great example of how TBI Brussels can use our networks and convening power to help TBI’s global-advisory country teams to deliver on our clients’ priorities. We used our panel discussion and a full programme of meetings between Sanna Marin and EU leaders to set out why we support EU membership for Ukraine and Moldova.”

TBI Brussels Director Seamus Jeffreson

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