- Talks with the South African Government
- Launch in Neighboring Countries
- Obstacles to Launch in South Africa
Elon Musk's company Starlink has held talks with the South African government about launching its satellite internet service in the country.
Talks with the South African Government
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he has had talks with Elon Musk about potential investments by Starlink in the country. "I told him, 'Elon, you have become so successful and are investing in various countries. I want you to come home and invest here,'" Ramaphosa told reporters in Pretoria. The President indicated that further discussions with Musk are planned.
Launch in Neighboring Countries
Four days ago, Musk announced on the social network X that the company has launched its services in the neighboring country, Zimbabwe. This comes three months after Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the approval of a license for the company. The launch in Zimbabwe occurred two weeks after the launch in Botswana. Now, Starlink's services are available in over 107 countries globally, including 16 African countries such as South Sudan and Ghana.
Obstacles to Launch in South Africa
South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have an estimated in-service date for Starlink. In April, it was reported that Starlink would not operate in South Africa due to the company's refusal to share 30% ownership with local businesses as per the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements. Additionally, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Ministry of Communications have not issued new licenses for about 13 years. Despite these regulatory delays, some locals have been using Starlink’s services via its roaming feature, which has been in operation since early 2023.
The future of Starlink in South Africa remains uncertain due to ongoing delays in regulatory approvals and licensing. Meanwhile, residents continue to use the company's services through roaming.
