Back in June, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke with Elon Musk about making Starlink available in Lebanon. Now, after two months, the Lebanese cabinet has officially granted Starlink a license to provide satellite internet services in the country.
For those unfamiliar, Starlink is a satellite internet system developed by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace company. It’s designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to rural and remote areas via a large constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit.
Licensing Starlink is a promising development for Lebanon—a country struggling with crumbling infrastructure and subpar internet services. While it doesn’t come without risks or challenges, and it’s not a permanent solution for universal, affordable, high-speed internet, it offers a valuable alternative in the short term until more sustainable solutions are in place.

Why is it good?
Improved connectivity in areas suffering from slow and unstable internet
A solid alternative to weak ground infrastructure and frequent power outages
A boost for businesses and essential services—especially helpful for remote work, e-commerce, streaming, international communication, and more

Why is it bad?
The biggest concerns revolve around data sovereignty, as well as legal and regulatory oversight—areas in which Lebanon is poorly equipped. We won’t have much control over where data goes or how it’s stored, despite any reassurances. Security and privacy concerns are real and should not be underestimated.
Other drawbacks include the risk of unequal access, given the high cost of Starlink, and broader security implications.

How much will it cost?
There’s no official pricing yet, but estimates suggest residential users may pay over $100 per month, in addition to upfront hardware costs.