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Starlink could hit South Africa by mid-2025

Starlink satellite constellation on a low Earth orbit (Image source: Generated using DALL·E 3)
Satellite constellation on a low Earth orbit (Image source: Generated using DALL·E 3)
Thanks to the changes in licensing requirements announced by the local Department of Communication and Digital Technologies, Starlink could enter South Africa next summer. However, this is not certain yet, although Elon Musk's satellite-based internet service gained political support in the country already.

While the official Starlink coverage map shows the status for South Africa as "Service date is unknown at this time," in this moment, those waiting for this service to become available in that market should keep an eye on this page and check back from time to time. The reason is that upcoming regulatory changes could help Starlink reach this African market before the end of 2025.

According to the local press,

"The Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT) revealed that it plans to introduce new rules under the Electronic Communications Act, which governs sectors like telecommunications and broadcasting."

Right now, the most important issue that Starlink needs to overcome is the requirement for companies that apply for telecom licenses to hold at least 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. On the bright side, Elon Musk seems to have political support already. Back in September, the tech wizard met South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in New York.

The DCDT will publish a notice early next year, asking for the public's feedback on the proposed policy changes. If everything goes smoothly, the changes will be finalized by mid-2025, and then it shouldn't take long for Starlink to descend upon South Africa. Until now, Starlink has had several discussions with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on this matter, although no licensing application has been filed yet. The satellite internet services provided by Elon Musk's company are already available in South Africa's neighboring countries, such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique.

Those interested in South Africa's history might want to check out Mills Soko's South Africa and the World: A political economy journey through time, which was published in late September 2021 and is available only in Kindle format, priced at $16.66.

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Codrut Nistor, 2024-12-16 (Update: 2024-12-16)