Starlink isn't approved in The Gambia but works there using Senegal's service. Register it at a Senegalese border town as your home base. Starlink allows 2 months roaming, so you can use it in Gambia during that time. After 2 months, return to Senegal and use it there for a day to reset roaming.
Starlink is currently available in Senegal but not yet approved in The Gambia. However, people are using it in The Gambia, including hotspot companies. Here's how they do it and what you need to know about the risks.
How to Use Starlink in The Gambia
Get your Starlink from a Senegalese town or village near the border that's closest to your home in The Gambia. This is important because it sets your home base in Senegal.
Once you have it set up with a Senegalese address, you can use it in The Gambia for 2 months under Starlink's roaming policy. Starlink allows roaming away from your home base for this period.
The Two-Month Roaming Rule
After using it in The Gambia for 2 months, you must return to your home base in Senegal. Use the Starlink there for at least a day to reset your roaming period.
Then you can take it back to The Gambia for another 2 months. You repeat this cycle accordingly to keep using it without getting flagged or banned.
Why The Gambia Doesn't Have Starlink Yet
Gambian authorities have still not approved Starlink for use in the country. This is why you can't order it directly with a Gambian address or use it permanently without the roaming workaround.
How Hotspot Companies Use It
Hotspot companies in The Gambia currently use Starlink through this same method. They register it in Senegal and manage the roaming periods to keep service running.
Chances of Getting Banned
If you follow the two-month roaming cycle and return to your Senegal home base regularly, your chances of getting banned in the first months are low. Starlink's roaming policy allows temporary use away from your registered location.
However, if you stay in The Gambia permanently without returning to Senegal, Starlink may flag your account for violating roaming terms.
The Reality
This method is not the most convenient. You have to travel to Senegal every two months to reset your roaming allowance. But it's the best option available until Gambian authorities approve Starlink for direct use in the country.
What You Need
A registered Starlink account with a Senegalese address near the Gambian border. This makes travel between your home base and The Gambia easier to manage every two months.
Access to that location in Senegal where you can physically use the Starlink for at least a day to reset the roaming period.
Bottom Line
You can use Starlink in The Gambia by registering it in Senegal and following the two-month roaming cycle. Return to your Senegal home base regularly to avoid getting banned. It works but requires planning and regular trips across the border until The Gambia officially approves Starlink.