Lebanon’s government has entered formal discussions with Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, to explore bringing the high-speed service to the country. The talks were confirmed on Thursday following a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Starlink’s Director of Licensing and Development Sam Turner, and U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, according to a statement shared via Musk’s social platform X.

President Joseph Aoun also met separately with Turner, receiving updates from Telecoms Minister Charles Hage about the ongoing negotiations with SpaceX, Starlink’s famous parent company. The introduction of Starlink would position Lebanon among the 136 countries globally benefiting from the company’s satellite-driven connectivity, enhancing internet services across various sectors.

Minister Hage emphasized the potential for Starlink’s presence in Lebanon to transform the country into a regional communications hub, stating this could significantly boost the nation’s attractiveness to global businesses and investors. Starlink’s services, known for their reliability and speed, promise substantial improvements to connectivity in critical areas such as banking, industry, education, and government operations, according to the Lebanese presidency.

Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure has faced persistent challenges, plagued by outdated technologies, high costs, and systemic issues linked to years of economic turmoil and mismanagement. Starlink’s entry could provide a much-needed upgrade, delivering faster and more dependable internet at a time when mobile data plans in Lebanon are among the most expensive in the world.

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Previous efforts to bring Starlink to Lebanon stalled under former Telecoms Minister Johnny Corm, who cited security concerns and commercial disagreements as significant hurdles. Specifically, negotiations encountered legal and technical barriers relating to data storage and privacy. SpaceX initially requested data servers to be based in Qatar or Germany, a demand incompatible with Lebanon’s personal data protection laws (Law No. 81).

If current talks overcome these challenges, the successful integration of Starlink’s satellite internet could mark a pivotal shift in Lebanon’s digital landscape, opening new avenues for economic recovery, innovation, and global investment.