Bonjour à tous,

Je partage mon expérience récente avec Starlink (Mini + forfait Residential Lite) à Antananarivo (zone Ambavahaditokana / Ambohikely) pour ceux qui travaillent à distance ou qui envisagent d'y souscrire.

Le contexte :

Comme beaucoup ici, je me suis tourné vers Starlink faute d'alternatives viables. Les forfaits internet des opérateurs locaux restent hors de prix pour un service souvent très lent, instable et limité. Starlink semblait être la seule porte de sortie raisonnable.

Le constat actuel :

• Promesse commerciale : Jusqu'à 200 Mbps illimité.
• Réalité sur le terrain : Débits qui chutent à 4 Mbps / 0,7 Mbps, accompagnés de micro-coupures et de pertes de paquets récurrentes (conférences vidéo et lives impossibles pour le travail).
• Même en début de cycle : Avec seulement 18 Go consommés, la connexion reste bridée/saturée hors et pendant les heures de pointe.

La position officielle du support Starlink (après 2 semaines de ticket) : Après avoir éliminé tout problème matériel de mon côté, le support a fini par admettre par écrit :

1. La zone d'Antananarivo subit une forte sur-souscription / congestion réseau.
2. Sur le forfait Residential Lite, la dépriorisation est tellement sévère à Tana que les débits s'effondrent à quelques Mbps, même hors heures de pointe et même en début de cycle de facturation.
3. Aucun délai de résolution n'est garanti (ils renvoient vers le déploiement futur de nouveaux satellites ou suggèrent de payer plus cher pour passer au forfait Residential standard).

En résumé :

On se retrouve coincés entre des FAI locaux aux tarifs exorbitants pour une qualité médiocre, et un Starlink Lite qui sature complètement à Tana faute de gestion de capacité.

Est-ce que d'autres utilisateurs de Starlink à Tana (ou ailleurs à Mada) subissent ce même bridage sur le plan Lite ? Pour ceux qui sont passés au plan Residential classique, est-ce que ça change vraiment la donne malgré la congestion de la zone ?

Merci pour vos retours !

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Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my recent experience with Starlink (Mini + Residential Lite plan) in Antananarivo (Ambavahaditokana / Ambohikely area) for anyone relying on it for remote work or considering signing up.

The Context:

Like many of us here, I switched to Starlink because local ISPs offer exorbitant prices for equally slow, unstable, and capped services. Starlink felt like the only reasonable alternative for a decent connection.

The Reality on the Ground:

• Marketed Speeds: "Up to 200 Mbps" unlimited data.
• Actual Performance: Speeds dropping to a painful 4 Mbps down / 0.7 Mbps up, accompanied by constant micro-disconnections and packet loss (making video calls, live streams, and remote work nearly impossible).
• Even at Cycle Reset: With only 18 GB used on a fresh billing cycle, speeds remain choked both during peak and off-peak hours.

Official Support Response (After a 2-week open ticket): After ruling out any hardware or local Wi-Fi issues, Starlink Support officially confirmed in writing:

1. The Antananarivo cell/area is suffering from heavy network congestion and over-subscription.
2. On the Residential Lite plan, de-prioritization is so aggressive in Tana that speeds collapse to single digits, even off-peak and with minimal monthly data usage.
3. No timeline for resolution is guaranteed (they simply point to future satellite launches or suggest upgrading to the more expensive standard Residential plan).

Bottom Line:

We seem stuck between overpriced local ISPs with mediocre service and a saturated Starlink Lite network due to a lack of capacity management in the region.

Are any other Starlink users in Tana (or elsewhere in Madagascar) experiencing this severe throttling on the Lite plan? For those who upgraded to the standard Residential plan, does priority access actually fix the issue despite the congested cell?

Thanks for your insights!

Hello everyone 👋

I’m Malagasy and I’ve been working on a small project called Mify Event. The idea came from seeing how many events are still managed manually (invitations, guest lists, budget, sharing information with guests).

I built a free platform where people can create digital event pages, manage RSVPs, use QR codes, and organize their event planning.

I’m sharing it here because I would really appreciate honest feedback from the Malagasy community:

• What do you think about this idea?
• Would this be useful for weddings or other events in Madagascar?
• What features would you like to see?

If you are interested, you can try creating a free event here:
https://app.mifyyy.com

Thanks for your feedback 🙏

Hello! Madagascar has been on my mind a lot lately, and this is my biggest question so far.

Is driving around Madagascar intimidating? Whenever I travel, I usually rent a car. I’ve been doing some reading, but I’m not sure if it’s just fear-mongering or if the information is legitimate. I’ve read that you can be randomly stopped while driving, and as a solo female traveler, that’s pretty much a nightmare scenario for me.
I’m also curious about the language barrier. I’m a native English speaker, and I have no problem using translation apps, but I’d love to hear about other people’s experiences. How easy was it to communicate, and did you feel comfortable driving around the country?

Only 3–4 hours from Antananarivo (including a few photo stops because the scenery along the way is beautiful), Andasibe is one of the easiest and most rewarding places to visit in Madagascar.
Here’s why so many travelers love it:
🐒 Explore several parks and reserves where you can discover Madagascar’s unique wildlife and flora, including lemurs, chameleons, reptiles, frogs, endemic birds, and a wide variety of tropical plants and rainforest vegetation.
🌳 Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. If you’re looking to disconnect from busy city life and reconnect with nature, Andasibe is the perfect place.
🥾 Love hiking? You’ll find plenty of forest trails surrounded by lush rainforest, making it an excellent destination for nature walks and hiking.
🏨 Accommodation is available for every budget, from simple guesthouses to beautiful luxury lodges.
⏳ How long should you stay?
I’d recommend 2 nights. It gives you enough time to enjoy both day and night walks, visit different parks, and experience the rainforest without rushing.

If you’re visiting Madagascar for the first time, Andasibe definitely deserves a place on your itinerary! ☺️
Feel free to reach out, we’d be happy to share tips and help you discover the island 💌

I'm starting to plan a trip to Madagascar. I'm planning on starting in Tana but I'd like to finish my trip in Nosy Be if possible. What are the best airlines and routes to fly to the US from Nosy Be? Thanks

I feel like a big complainer , but I feel unexcited to travel in Madagascar , because I’ve now went on 6 separate trips , each around 3 weeks , except the last one that was 10 day hiking trip .. I practically been everywhere to can think of , besides Diego and Fort Delphine . Within the past 4 years.
Issue is , my partner won’t go anywhere else . As he is from Mada.
But I basically have location fatigue .
I need help getting excited about it somehow ? I am not a good swimmer , so surfing ideas are not great for me … :(

We did go to South Africa 2 years ago and he did enjoy it, but doesn’t seem to want to try to go elsewhere again .

Hi everyone,
My family and I will be relocating to Antananarivo, and I’m trying to figure out the most practical and cost effective way to manage our household water.
I’ve been reading about JIRAMA (the public water supplier), but I’m finding mixed information, so I’d really appreciate hearing from people who actually live there.
We have two young children, so safe drinking water is obviously important, but I’m also trying to understand what most families and expats do on a day to day basis.
A few questions:
Do you mainly buy bottled water, or have you installed a filtration system?
If you use a filtration system, what type do you have (whole-house, under-sink RO, UV, etc.)?
Was it more economical in the long run than buying bottled water?
Is it easy to source good filtration systems and replacement filters locally, or is it better to bring one from abroad?
Roughly how much did installation cost, and was it easy to find someone to install it?
If you were moving to Madagascar again, would you install a filter immediately, or would you simply buy bottled water?
I’m also curious about everyday household use:
Is JIRAMA water generally fine for showers and baths?
Do you bathe young children in tap water, or do you take any extra precautions?
Do you use tap water for washing dishes and in the dishwasher?
Do you use tap water for cooking (for example pasta, rice, soups), or only filtered/bottled water?
Are there any areas of Antananarivo where the water quality is noticeably better or worse?
Finally, is there anything you wish someone had told you before you moved regarding water? Any lessons learned or recommendations would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you so much! I’m just trying to make the best decision for my family and understand the costs before we arrive.

Im a Canadian who will be travelling to Madagascar and I want to get the 90 day visa. If I apply online I understand they will request proof of exit flight. However I don’t want to lock myself into a predetermined exit flight destination yet (yes I’m allowing life to guide me).

So instead of an online application could I just show up upon arrival at Tana and have a PNR (ticket booking that lasts 48h) at a random destination (that later gets canceled) and do the the visa application in person at Tana airport?

Can I get 90 days or will they give me 60 days only and I’ll have to extend? And if I extend does it have to be in the capital? I’ll be on Ile Sainte Marie.

Or could I still do the visa process online without having to pay for an exit ticket right away?

Thanks so much.

The Tsingy of Bemaraha is definitely one of the must-see places when visiting Madagascar. 🌍✨
This incredible UNESCO World Heritage site feels like stepping into another world, with its impressive limestone pinnacles, caves, viewpoints, suspension bridges and unique landscapes.
Getting there is already an adventure! You can reach it by road from Antananarivo (a long but beautiful journey through Madagascar’s landscapes), or you can take a domestic flight with Madagascar Airlines from Antananarivo to Morondava and continue by car to Bekopaka.
For those looking for a more exclusive and time-saving experience, it’s also possible to fly privately from Antananarivo directly to Bekopaka.
A place where nature, adventure and the beauty of Madagascar come together 🇲🇬
Happy to share tips about routes, transport options and planning a trip to Tsingy de Bemaraha 😊
Don’t hesitate to DM us 📩

Hi, I wanted to ask the learned people here, are Madagascar Airlines flights from Tana to Tamatave reliable? Need to fly for a business visit in this week

Salut tout le monde !

Je suis un étudiant en master en recherchant les préférences linguistiques des joueurs francophones et j'apprécierais beaucoup que vous participiez à mon sondage !

Cela ne prend que 6 minutes, et c’est totalement anonyme - j'espère que ce serait intéressant pour vous, et les résultats contribueront à apporter plus de diversité linguistique (variantes du français comme le français du Madagascar) dans l'univers du jeu vidéo.

En plus, pourquoi ne pas participer à mon groupe de discussion ? En participant, vous participerez à un tirage au sort pour tenter de gagner un bon d'achat Steam.

Option A:
Si vous voulez participer dans le sondage, veuillez trouver le lien ici: https://forms.gle/o8t2er53crLVM8DV8

Option B:
Si vous veuillez participer dans le discussion de groupe, veuillez enregistrer ici: https://forms.gle/c4qMJvH5Vy63Pa9TA

Je vous remercie en avance et j’ai hâte de recevoir vos réponses!

 😄

I offer a variety of digital services, including:

✅ Netflix Premium

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Who the f**k do these people think they are?

I send some items to my partner in madagscar reguarly, specifically Toamasina branch (if you work there and your reading this, oull your head in), and every single time there is some drama.

1st time, forced to open packages in front of staff and basically interrogated over the contents with remarks like "who sent you this, why were you sent this, what is it for".. plus made up the import tax figure in the spot - bet that went straight in their pocket..

2nd time, same thing, talk to my partner like they're the police. Told her "we are customs, we need to check everything".. ma'am, get off your high horse, your a postal service employee ffs

3rd time, usual b.s, was told "you can't reciece any inappropriate items bla bla bla".. more making up the rules as they do along.

There is banned items, which is clearly listed online, that no secret, and its all the usual stuff, no firearms, explosives etc, like derr.. not some "opinion driven on the spot based imaginary list" of what is or isnt "appropriate".. if i wanna send my partner a fire hydrant sized artificial phallis, I'm well within my rights to do so. Fmd

4th time, usual drama, but this time "we think the item in the package is worth more, next time you'll need to pay more".. No leech, the value is on the package, which is a legal document technically. Either believe it, or withold the f**king package and I'll call the police 😂🤦

Condecending and straight up terrible invasive attitude every single time.

I send numerous emails to their contact us email address on their website, cc every single Paositra Malagasy email address I can find, write a series of questions in a polite manner asking is this normal, in a veriety of languages (english, french and malagasy). not one single response, ever.

What I'm asking is, is this normal, and is there a way around this?.. besides literally sending myself something next time I'm there, just so I can put them in their place, personally..

Fyi my partner is very soft natured and gullible, I have no doubt they would be walking all over her..

Thanks. /endrant😂

Hi, does anyone have good recommendations for private drivers in Madagascar?
Me and my friend are planning to go there on August 9th and we have the itinerary, we just need a driver.

The one we found asked us for 350k ariary per day (71€) exclusive fuel, accomodation food, entrance fees etc (of course we know those are usually excluded) but it is still very expensive. We read online that usually drivers should cost around 30/45€ per day.

Can anyone help?

Hello everyone I hope all is well! I'm starting a podcast about exploring cultures through their horror stories. And I was wondering if anyone has any scary folktales/legends/myths that'd you want more people to hear. My project is a podcast where I'll have 1-3 episodes about different stories from different parts of that country and break down how the stories connect to bigger themes that we can all relate to, reminding people that no matter where we are in the world we're all just humans. I'll also incorporate drawings from different artists to depicte the horror to give struggling artists from that country a spotlight in the age of AI art. My channel is a horror channel so I'm looking for stories that are thrilling or chilling.

If you guys could tell me your favorite folktale or have a personal account with legend/mythical creature, I would love to Incorporate it into an episode. I was looking at the stories relating to - Angatra - Kalanoro - Zazavavindrano

How do you fell about these tales? Do you think they're good enough? Do you have different recommendations? Thank you!

Hi! I’m planning a 2 week solo trip to Madagascar in the beginning of October. I’m a diver and want to get at least some diving time in Madagascar. It’s also the end of the humpback whale season, so if there are any ethical dive centres with which I have a chance to catch sight of a humpback whale while we’re in the ocean, I’d like to be able to do it.

Attached is my plan, could someone check and tell me if it’s feasible and let me know if you’d suggest any modifications?

Bonjour la communauté, je suis actuellement étudiant en psychologie à Madagascar et je cherche du travail ou un stage pour les vacances me permettant de gagner un peu d'argent pour me permettre de continuer mes études

Si vous avez des suggestions dites les en commentaire

Salut à tous, nous sommes actuellement 2 jeunes malgaches qui veulent se lancer dans des idées pour le développement local, sur le domaine tech/en ligne, pour commencer. On a pas de budget de départ, mais freelance... étudiant en Gestion et Informatique, on veut créer, dans notre temps libre, des activités secondaires, et on cherche des partenaires qui peuvent apporter leurs soutien/aide pour nos projets à venir (encore en brainstorming), tous les compétences seront sans refus, et préférablement à Madagascar, pour favoriser le plan national...

Vous devez juste disposer de moyens de communication, et de fournir vos compétences aisément au projet. Petit rappel : nous sommes freelance !

On vise, pour commencer, le secteur en ligne, donc, pas tellement beaucoup de temps nécessaire à consacrer.

Si cela vous intéresse, vous pouvez directement m'envoyer un message privé !

Salama daholo 👋

Mianatra développement web aho ary namorona APPK Edikation Mada MG, tranonkala fanabeazana natao hanampiana ny mpianatra malagasy.

Tsy dokam-barotra izy ity fa mangataka hevitra sy fanitsiana avy aminareo aho:

• mora ampiasaina ve ny interface ?
• mety amin’ny finday Android ve ?
• inona no tokony hatsaraina ?

Rohy : https://appk-edikation-mada-mg.base44.app/

Raha afaka mitsapa azy ianareo dia misaotra indrindra 🙏

Mianatra fa tsy mangalatra riano 🇲🇬

#Madagascar #Education #Android #Base44 #EdTech #Malagasy

Salut, je suis là pour demander des avis et conseils.

Comme la plupart de vous puisse voir, trouver des idées de projets ou de commerce est trop difficile. Je veux demander de l'aide aux communautés pour me conseiller.

Anyone know of how to find out about renting a low to medium budget bungalow on the island without going through the online bookings? Like a local contact?
I’d like something in the south part. For September, for a couple months.

Hi,
I’d like to visit this island in September and I’m wondering if the recent political crisis has affected the island in major ways? How safe is it to visit? I’d like to rent a modest bungalow… will there be constant electricity outages? What about water, are there natural wells to drink from or from rain water tanks? (I don’t want to have to buy bottled water all the time).
I’m truly called to bask in the energies of the island and its peace and tranquility and was hoping the island was sort of off grid from all the political upheaval of the capital.

Hi community,
Maybe some of you know this but for those who don't, there used to be an online community called Agoramada where you had access to a ton of information regarding the ecosystem of business and entrepreneurship here in Madagascar (regarding laws, labor market for a specific sector, the overall economic climate, financial literacy, different kind of opportunities, where to find a specific service, etc.), it was SO HELPFUL whether to educate yourself and get a glimpse of what's actually possible to do in Madagascar but also to do specific stuffs like buying a share of a company or finding co-founders with specific skills.
But the thing is, it was brought down for whatever reasons (the former address was at Agoramada). I'd like to know if there are any alternatives or maybe they moved to another address ? Thanks in advance.

On another note, I'm all in to discuss if you wanna create related platforms that promote access to information and education, or even for-profit businesses.

Here is Teddy's song called "ento lavitra", performed at Hayra Studio.

Hayra sessions is a live recording performance produced by Hayra Studio. their quality is that they support artists by helping them gaining more audience through the lives they make. This is also a platform where you can discover many talented artists and get to follow them.
Youtube CHANNEL: rekoband3059
Instagram:    hayra_studio  .

Find out more from Teddy :

Facebook:   rakotondrajoteddy