Elon Musk’s Starlink continues to face issues in South Africa. Here’s what has happened so far
Starlink has expanded rapidly across Africa, but in South Africa, the service remains unavailable, held back by licensing requirements, ownership rules, and a growing regulatory standoff. Here’s how the dispute has unfolded.
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Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has expanded rapidly across Africa, positioning itself as a solution to poor connectivity in underserved regions. But while the service is live in several African countries, South Africa, which is Musk’s country of birth and one of the continent’s most advanced telecoms markets, remains a notable exception.<br />
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Over the years, Starlink’s attempts to enter South Africa have been hindered by regulatory hurdles, policy debates, and public disputes, keeping the company on the outside looking in.<br />
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Starlink’s footprint in Africa <br />
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Starlink began its African expansion in 2023, launching first in Nigeria before rolling out to several other markets across East, West and Southern Africa.<br />
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The service is now active in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone, where it has gained traction among businesses and users in areas with limited broadband access.<br />
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However, its expansion has not been seamless. In some countries, there was some pushback. In Botswana, for example, Starlink’s initial application to operate in the country was rejected, and it was banned afterwards.<br />
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Also in Cameroon, Starlink services were suspended in April 2024 for operating without proper authorisation. Authorities cited concerns over national security and fair competition with local providers.<br />
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South Africa, however, has been different. Despite strong demand and years of informal use via roaming plans and imported kits, Starlink has not secured approval to operate in the country. Instead, regulatory enforcement, policy disputes and public disagreements have kept the service locked out, setting the stage for a prolonged standoff that has yet to be resolved.<br />
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Here’s everything that has transpired between Musk’s satellite Internet company and South Africa.<br />
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1. Starlink is still struggling to receive a licence to operate<br />
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Starlink has become the second-largest ISP in Nigeria in just two years; however, it d...
