Starlink Traffic Triples in Cape Verde: Tech Giants Challenged
Elon Musk’s Starlink is rapidly reshaping the telecommunications landscape in Cape Verde, tripling its share of the country’s internet traffic in just one year, according to the latest data from the Multisectoral Regulatory Authority of the Economy (ARME).
A Surge in Satellite Dominance
Data from the second quarter of this year reveals that Starlink now accounts for 18% of all internet traffic in the archipelago. This represents a massive jump from the 6% share the provider held during the same period in 2025, shortly after it first debuted in the market.
This rapid growth has come at the expense of established local players. The market share of state-owned operator Cabo Verde Telecom fell from 89% to 78%, while Unitel saw its traffic share slip from 6% to 4%. Both domestic companies offer traditional mobile networks and fiber-optic services, including pay TV.
High Usage Despite Fewer Users
The most striking finding in the ARME report is the disparity between traffic volume and total subscribers. While Starlink accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s data usage, it represents less than 1% of total internet access subscriptions.
This suggests that Starlink users in Cape Verde are consuming significantly more data per connection—likely through bandwidth-intensive activities such as high-definition streaming, gaming, and large file transfers—than those using traditional mobile or fiber connections.
Mobile Still King for Connectivity
Despite Starlink’s dominance in data volume, Cape Verdeans still overwhelmingly rely on mobile devices for basic connectivity. In terms of total subscriptions, CV Telecom remains the leader with a 73% market share, followed by Unitel at 27%, closely mirroring the distribution of the SIM card market.
The ARME statistics, compiled from standardized questionnaires sent to all operators, highlight a shifting digital landscape where satellite technology is becoming a primary engine for high-volume data consumption in the Atlantic archipelago.
Image: Pexels – David Wilkowski
