MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (XOL Africa) — Equatorial Guinea’s government has moved to centralize the marketing and distribution of Starlink satellite internet while seeking tax or other compensation from major digital platforms operating in the country.
Vice President Nguema Obiang Mangue led a working session Tuesday at the People’s Palace in Malabo to determine the government’s position on digital service providers and how companies benefiting from business in Equatorial Guinea should contribute to state revenues.
The meeting followed an agreement reached by the Ministry of Transport with Starlink to market satellite internet services in the country.
Under the government’s proposed framework, the legal authority to sell Starlink services would rest with ORTEL, under the supervision of the State Secretariat for Artificial Intelligence.
The government also called for the training of Equatorial Guinean technicians to install and maintain Starlink equipment, while the vice president ordered the opening of a dedicated bank account to monitor Starlink revenues and customer payments.
Oil companies operating offshore have already been authorized to use Starlink’s network at their service locations, according to the government.
Authorities also called for the cancellation of Starlink contracts obtained by individuals outside official channels, with the aim of bringing the service under centralized management.
Government targets Meta
The government also turned its attention to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
According to the commission, Meta has developed business activities in Equatorial Guinea without contributing to the state. The commission was therefore instructed to negotiate alternative forms of compensation with the company.
The government also authorized discussions with other digital applications and platforms to assess different options, including their usefulness and the costs they impose on state finances.
The move reflects Equatorial Guinea’s effort to establish greater government oversight of digital services and ensure that international technology companies contribute financially to economic activity generated in the country.
The government said negotiations with digital service distributors should help ensure that companies operating in Equatorial Guinea contribute to public revenues while providing services to consumers and businesses.
The Starlink agreement is expected to expand access to satellite-based internet connectivity, while the government’s proposed regulatory structure would place the marketing and distribution of the service under national oversight.
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