Starlink uninterrupted in South Africa despite restrictions

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYJuly 2, 2024 at 10:15 PM UTC

TLDR

SpaceX's Starlink service continues in South Africa despite warnings of limitations for users in unauthorized regions.
Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Botswana now approve Starlink's operation after initially considering it illegal.
Starlink's satellite Internet service in Africa gains operational approval in additional countries.

Despite warnings of cutting off users accessing its roaming service in regions without official availability, SpaceX's satellite Internet service, Starlink, has remained online in South Africa, as reported by MyBroadband.

This situation persists over two months after Starlink informed its roaming customers that they would no longer be able to access its service in areas where the company lacks authorization, including South Africa.

Meanwhile, since the warning, three African nations — Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Botswana — which had initially deemed Starlink illegal and faced potential service cuts alongside South Africa, have granted the company operational approval.

Key Takeaways

Starlink has either rolled out or plans to launch in 44 African countries, with a few exceptions, including South Africa. Factors potentially limiting Starlink's official launch in South Africa include the Electronic Communications Act, which requires telecom licensees to be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs). Additionally, an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for new electronic communications services licenses has not yet been issued. There is also a proposed but currently suspended requirement for telecom licensees to have 30% black ownership. These regulatory and legal hurdles are likely contributing to the delay in Starlink's official entry into the South African market.

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