Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX is waiting for regulatory approval to introduce its Starlink satellite internet service in South Africa, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The SpaceX and Tesla founder responded briefly to a post on X on Sunday, where a South African user, ‘Boer,’ highlighted difficulties in providing online education to their children with a slow 6Mbps satellite connection and urged for Starlink’s availability in the country.
Musk replied simply with, ‘Waiting for regulatory approval,’ without further details.
A spokesperson from the Independent Communications Regulator of South Africa (Icasa) confirmed on Monday that SpaceX has not yet submitted an application for a communications license in South Africa.
Starlink, known for its high-speed internet service via a network of satellites in low-Earth orbit, is especially beneficial in remote and rural areas where traditional internet service is unfeasible due to low profitability.
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While Starlink has been navigating regulatory challenges across Africa and has already begun operations in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and eSwatini, South African regulations have posed significant hurdles.
A key issue is the Electronic Communication Act’s requirement for communications license holders to be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups, which has likely impeded SpaceX’s application process.
Icasa has recently indicated a willingness to accommodate international satellite internet providers. In August, the communications regulator issued a notice proposing an inquiry into new satellite regulations, including procedures for registering international operators.
Additionally, SpaceX has started addressing the issue of illegal Starlink use in South Africa.
Some individuals had been using Starlink roaming packages from other countries by bringing the equipment into South Africa. To combat this, Starlink is now enforcing a ‘two-month rule,’ which deactivates the service if the dish is used outside its home country for more than two months without being returned.
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