Lebanon, a nation long beset by crumbling infrastructure and chronic electricity shortages, has taken a major step toward digital modernization. On September 12, 2025, the Lebanese cabinet officially approved a license for Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, to provide internet distribution services throughout the country. This move, announced by Information Minister Paul Morcos, marks a pivotal shift in Lebanon’s approach to connectivity and could help bridge the country’s persistent digital divide.
For years, Lebanon’s internet landscape has been defined by slow speeds, frequent outages, and strict state control. According to AP, the country’s internet access has historically been managed by state-run providers and their partners, who have often resisted the entry of outside competitors. Many Lebanese have grown accustomed to unreliable service, a situation exacerbated by the country’s ongoing economic crisis and infrastructure woes.
Starlink’s arrival isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a symbol of hope for a population weary of daily blackouts and faltering networks. The satellite service, which now boasts more than 7 million users across 150 countries and territories according to The Stamford Advocate, operates via a constellation of over 8,000 satellites orbiting about 550 kilometers above Earth. This technology offers a resilient alternative to traditional fiberoptic and mobile networks, which in Lebanon have been vulnerable to outages and physical damage, especially during recent regional conflicts and infrastructure failures.
“Starlink will provide internet services throughout Lebanon via satellites operated by Musk’s SpaceX,” Information Minister Paul Morcos announced on Thursday, as reported by AP. The decision came after months of negotiations and high-level engagement. In June 2025, Starlink executive Sam Turner presented to President Joseph Aoun, and Elon Musk himself held a direct phone call with the president earlier in the year, expressing keen interest in Lebanon’s telecommunications sector and highlighting Starlink’s transformative potential.
Initially, Starlink’s services in Lebanon will focus on businesses rather than households. Tony Saad, spokesperson for Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage, told Economy Middle East that subscription packages will start at $100 per month for companies seeking reliable, high-speed internet access. This business-first approach is designed to support commercial enterprises, banking, education, and government institutions—sectors that have been particularly hampered by unreliable connectivity.
For Lebanon, the timing couldn’t be more critical. The country’s electricity grid, managed by the state-run Electricite du Liban (EDL), has been a source of national frustration and international scrutiny. As noted by AP, EDL has cost the state more than $40 billion since the civil war ended in 1990 and wastes over $1 billion annually. International organizations have repeatedly pressed Lebanon to implement regulatory reforms in the electricity and telecommunications sectors—a demand that was addressed in the very same cabinet meeting that approved the Starlink license. The government finally appointed long-delayed regulatory authorities for both sectors, a key step toward unlocking much-needed foreign aid and loans.
Lebanon’s decades-old energy woes have only worsened in recent years. The country has faced long hours of electricity cuts, with the situation deteriorating after the 2019 economic meltdown and a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in late November 2024. The World Bank, recognizing the severity of the crisis, announced in April 2025 a $250 million loan to help ease electricity cuts—a move that many hope will lay the groundwork for broader reforms.
Against this backdrop, Starlink’s satellite-based internet system promises greater coverage and stability, even in the face of Lebanon’s notorious power outages. The recent disruption of a key Red Sea fiber cable that slowed internet speeds across the Middle East underscored the urgent need for alternative connectivity solutions. Satellite internet, less reliant on vulnerable ground infrastructure, offers a lifeline for businesses and institutions desperate for consistent online access.
Lebanon now joins a growing list of Middle Eastern countries—including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan—where Starlink is already available or expanding. The cabinet’s decision, confirmed through the state news agency NNA, signals official government support for embracing satellite technology as a means to enhance national connectivity and promote digital innovation. The move is widely seen as an effort to spur economic growth and improve communication capabilities in a country grappling with deep-seated challenges.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office earlier in 2025, have publicly committed to fighting corruption and implementing long-overdue reforms. As AP reports, the World Bank has described Lebanon’s economic crisis as among the world’s worst since the 1850s. The hope is that improved internet access, coupled with regulatory reforms, will help the country begin to climb out of its economic malaise.
Yet, questions remain about the broader impact of Starlink’s entry. Will residential users eventually gain access to satellite internet, or will the service remain limited to businesses and institutions? How will the government ensure fair competition and prevent new monopolies from forming? And, perhaps most pressingly, can improved connectivity help drive the kind of economic recovery that Lebanon so desperately needs?
For now, businesses eager for faster and more reliable internet have a promising new option—one that’s backed by one of the world’s leading technology innovators. As implementation begins, stakeholders across Lebanon will be watching closely to see how Starlink Lebanon rolls out its services and whether the nation’s long-running connectivity woes will finally begin to ease. The hope, as expressed by many officials and business leaders, is that this marks the start of a new era for Lebanese internet services—one defined not by scarcity and frustration, but by opportunity and innovation.
The government’s willingness to embrace satellite technology, appoint long-delayed regulators, and engage with international partners signals a shift in attitude that many believe is long overdue. If successful, Lebanon’s partnership with Starlink could serve as a model for other countries facing similar infrastructure challenges. For now, though, the focus remains on implementation—and on the promise of a brighter, more connected future for all Lebanese.
