Image: Starlink
The UAE is teaming up with SpaceX’s Starlink to bring high-speed satellite internet and structured digital learning to some of the world’s most remote and underserved communities.
According to Gulf News, the new initiative will combine Starlink’s satellite connectivity with The Digital School’s accredited online education platform, targeting 100 remote sites globally in its first phase. The partnership was signed on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026 and reflects the UAE’s push to expand equitable access to education through high-impact global collaborations.
Under the agreement, Starlink will provide reliable, high-quality satellite internet, while The Digital School will deploy a comprehensive digital education ecosystem — including tailored programs, digitized curricula, teacher training, and learning platforms. The initiative is designed not just to connect schools, but to transform that connectivity into measurable academic outcomes.
“We’re thrilled to deliver high-speed connectivity to the UAE’s new global model for digital education with The Digital School and their students. With Starlink, students in remote, underserved, or connectivity-challenged areas can access online learning, real time collaboration tools, global scholarships, and career resources، sparking curiosity and growth,” said Ryan Goodnight, senior director of market access and development at SpaceX.
Three schools in the Kingdom of Lesotho have already been equipped with Starlink connectivity and integrated digital education systems, including computers, national curriculum digitization, and comprehensive teacher training. The Digital School says it has benefited more than 800,000 learners and trained over 30,000 educators to date, with content available in seven languages.
The move also aligns with Starlink’s broader global expansion strategy. The satellite internet provider doubled its user base to 9.2 million in 2025 and now accounts for roughly 97% of global satellite internet traffic. It has also committed $28 million toward free Wi-Fi and network equipment for 5,000 schools in South Africa, underscoring its growing role in public infrastructure and education initiatives.
As Starlink continues to push deeper into emerging markets and public sector partnerships, this UAE collaboration positions satellite internet not just as a consumer broadband product but as a foundational layer for global digital education.
