Given Yemen’s terrestrial internet challenges, satellite internet has emerged both as a stopgap and a hopeful solution. Traditionally, satellite internet in Yemen was used by institutions and NGOs – for example, banks, embassies, and UN agencies have long relied on VSAT links to ensure connectivity during outages smex.org. TeleYemen (the state gateway) has provided satellite-based connections (using Inmarsat, Thuraya or VSAT services) for enterprise customers, but these were very expensive and not widely accessible to the public. During major outages, some Yemenis have lined up at TeleYemen offices hoping to access limited satellite links for essential communication reuters.com reuters.com. Overall, however, traditional satellite internet has not been a scalable option for most households due to cost and regulatory restrictions.
The landscape started to change in 2023 with the introduction of Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet constellation. In a landmark move, Yemen’s government negotiated with SpaceX to bring Starlink service to Yemen. A pilot program was conducted in Aden in early 2023, where Starlink kits were tested. The results were impressive – download speeds jumped from barely 10–12 Mbps on existing networks to over 140 Mbps using Starlink during the trial ukraine.wilsoncenter.org. After nearly two years of talks and coordination (including setting up legal and security frameworks), the official launch of Starlink in Yemen was confirmed in September 2024 arabnews.com. Yemen’s government announced it had signed a deal with Starlink to operate in the country, aiming to end the Houthi-controlled telecom monopoly arabnews.com. Indeed, Starlink marked Yemen as the first country in the Middle East where its service is fully available, as shown on Starlink’s coverage map arabnews.com. The state-run PTC in Aden began offering Starlink subscriptions, and as of that announcement, users in Yemen (at least in government-held areas) can legally obtain satellite broadband. This development is poised to be a game-changer: Starlink’s high-speed, satellite-based internet can reach remote and isolated areas that are underserved by Yemen’s damaged infrastructure arabnews.com. It also introduces competition – local ISPs may be forced to improve service or lower prices if Starlink gains a foothold arabnews.com.
However, there are regulatory and political caveats. In Houthi-controlled regions, Starlink is not authorized by the de facto authorities and equipment could be confiscated if found. The Houthi leadership is reportedly wary of Starlink, seeing it as a tool that could undermine their control (since it allows bypassing YemenNet) or even pose security risks by enabling unmonitored communications. There were debates about whether Starlink receivers might be targeted in conflict zones (for instance, concerns that warplanes or drones could detect and strike the distinctive signals, as seen in other conflicts). As of late 2024, Starlink is effectively a service promoted by the internationally recognized government, mainly in the south. Its future potential in Yemen is significant though: if rollout continues, it could connect thousands of Yemeni homes, schools, and businesses to fast internet for the first time. Other satellite providers are also likely to watch Yemen’s case – companies like OneWeb or regional satellite ISPs might consider offering services if the regulatory environment opens up. Additionally, the use of satellite phones and data terminals (e.g. BGAN terminals or Thuraya IP modems) remains an important backup in Yemen for journalists and NGOs, though again tightly controlled in Houthi areas for security reasons.
In summary, satellite internet – especially LEO satellites like Starlink – offers a ray of hope for Yemen’s connectivity crisis. It bypasses destroyed infrastructure on the ground and can rapidly increase internet availability in a country where laying fiber is risky. With Starlink’s entry, Yemenis are optimistic that connectivity will improve and become more widespread, bridging some of the digital divide arabnews.com. The coming years will show whether this technology can be scaled affordably in Yemen and how the two authorities manage its usage, but the initial signs (successful trials and enthusiastic public reception) underscore its transformative promise.
Read more at https://ts2.tech/en/internet-access-in-yemen-overview-and-key-aspects/
