Aden (South24 Center)

The internationally recognized Yemeni government officially launched SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service in Aden on Tuesday, August 5, establishing authorized sales points for devices and subscription packages under the direct supervision of the Public Telecommunications Corporation.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the corporation's CEO, Engineer Wael Tarmoom, marking Starlink's first licensed entry into the Yemeni market -- a significant development for a country suffering from severely degraded internet services due to the ongoing conflict.

Communications Minister Waed Badheib stated in an official release that introducing satellite internet represents a strategic shift in improving digital connectivity, calling it a cornerstone of the government's digital transformation and e-service expansion efforts.

The Public Telecommunications Corporation said that Starlink devices will be sold through authorized distributors and the service's official website, offering users flexible access tailored to their needs. Engineer Tarmoom emphasized the corporation's focus on providing diverse options for both individuals and institutions to ensure broad adoption.

The launch coincided with plans to register the unauthorized Starlink devices already circulating locally, aiming to legalize their status and integrate them into the official framework, a move expected to regulate the market and ensure secure usage.

Three certified Starlink hardware options are now available:

• Gen3 V4 station: $500

• Mini station: $999

• Business station: $2,500

Subscription tiers under the Priority Unlimited plan range from $47 (40GB) to $800 (6TB), catering to varied technical and budgetary requirements.

This digital push comes as the state-run Aden Net service continues to fail to meet user demands for quality and coverage, and is unable to compete with the Houthi-controlled internet infrastructure in North Yemen.

Most of Yemen's telecommunications backbone, including (Yemen Net) and international gateways, remains under Houthi control, with the group weaponizing this dominance for political and economic leverage. 

The group banned Starlink in late 2024 after Elon Musk announced its Yemen rollout via X (formerly Twitter) that September.