Elon Musk’s satellite internet constellation, Starlink, has launched internet services in Sri Lanka.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk stated, “Starlink now available in Sri Lanka”, a landmark development in the country’s push to enhance internet connectivity.
The launch of Starlink in the Asian country comes after the internet provider secured a provider license in August 2024, from Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), to offer broadband internet services.
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The development followed after a meeting between Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Elon Musk in Indonesia last year. During the meeting, they discussed expediting the application process to connect Sri Lanka to Starlink, to enhance Sri Lanka’s access to high-speed internet via satellite technology.
Sri Lanka’s digital transformation has gained considerable momentum in recent years, with internet adoption and infrastructure development steadily advancing across the island nation. As of early 2025, over half of the population approximately 12.4 million people had access to the internet, marking a penetration rate of 53.6%.
This figure reflects a notable 7% increase from the previous year, indicating consistent growth in connectivity. Yet nearly 46.4% of Sri Lankans remain offline, highlighting the persistent digital divide that separates urban and rural communities.
According to recent reports, Sri Lanka’s total internet subscriptions including both mobile and fixed broadband rose to 26 million by late 2024, a 19% year-on-year increase. Mobile connections alone accounted for 29.3 million, exceeding the country’s population due to multiple SIM ownership. Notably, around 93% of mobile subscriptions were broadband-capable, with 3G covering nearly 98% of the country and 4G achieving close to full national coverage.
In terms of performance, fixed broadband services offer median download speeds of approximately 22–23 Mbps, while mobile networks deliver around 20 Mbps. SLT-Mobitel currently leads in fixed broadband with download speeds reaching up to 34 Mbps and upload speeds of 22 Mbps, though latency remains relatively high at 85ms. Mobile speeds, on the other hand, average 19–20 Mbps with latency between 17 and 22ms, according to Speed test’s global index.
The official entry of Starlink into Sri Lanka’s telecommunications space marks a pivotal moment in the country’s digital evolution. With the internet service now licensed in the country to operate locally, the implications are both immediate and far-reaching particularly in bridging the digital divide and strengthening the country’s economic and technological resilience.
With 43.7% of Sri Lanka’s population offline as of January 2024, Starlink’s satellite-based internet can deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband (50–200 Mbps download speeds) to underserved rural areas, such as tea plantations and remote regions like Ella and Yala, where traditional fiber or 4G coverage is weak or nonexistent.
The satellite internet offer download speeds of 25–220 Mbps and upload speeds of 5–25 Mbps, with latency as low as 20ms in optimal conditions. This outperforms many terrestrial providers in rural areas and rivals’ urban fiber connections, enabling seamless streaming, video calls, and gaming. Also, starlink infrastructure is less vulnerable to natural disasters compared to terrestrial networks, ensuring connectivity during emergencies, which is critical for a country prone to monsoons and floods.
Notably, Starlink has the potential to transform Sri Lanka’s internet landscape by providing high-speed connectivity to remote areas, boosting economic growth, and supporting digital inclusion. This could enhance Sri Lanka’s attractiveness for international businesses and digital services.