Côte d’Ivoire: Starlink and Digital City at the Heart of Talks with the United States

The Ivorian government is stepping up efforts to boost its digital economy. On Friday, March 13, the Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, Djibril Ouattara, met with a delegation from the United States Embassy to discuss several strategic areas, including connectivity, innovation, and technological infrastructure.

Satellite Solutions for Rural Connectivity

Among the topics discussed was the progress of the Starlink satellite service, developed by the American company SpaceX. Authorized by the ARTCI since September 2025, SpaceX’s satellite service is seen as a solution to address gaps in terrestrial networks in rural areas. For Abidjan, the goal is to use satellite technology as a technological shortcut to reduce the digital divide in a country where the Internet penetration rate stagnated at 40.7% at the end of 2025, according to DataReportal.

Infrastructure Ambitions and Funding Mobilization

The meeting also highlighted the Digital City project, a flagship initiative aimed at developing a technological hub dedicated to innovative companies and start-ups. The project notably includes a data center to support the development of more efficient digital public services and foster the emergence of an innovation ecosystem.

This ambition is supported by significant financial mobilization. For 2026, the government plans to allocate $146.9 million to various projects in the digital sector. In parallel, the country recently secured $152 million in funding from the World Bank for the first phase of the Côte d’Ivoire Digital Acceleration Project (PADCI).

In this context, strengthening cooperation with the United States could help accelerate the implementation of priority projects, particularly in connectivity, digital public services, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.