Starlink, the low-orbit satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has encountered regulatory challenges in Southern Africa, particularly in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
In Botswana, Starlink’s application to operate was rejected due to missing requirements in its application. The specific details of the missing information have not been disclosed, but Starlink is yet to respond to these issues. To operate in Botswana, entities like Starlink are required to pay an application fee, an annual license fee, and a percentage of annual operating revenue.
In South Africa, Starlink’s application was rejected because it did not comply with a legal requirement that mandates companies to have 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups to obtain telecoms licenses for broadband services.
In Zimbabwe, legislators rejected Starlink’s application due to reasons that may include requirements to work with local internet access providers or provide access to data and legal intercepts.
Despite these setbacks, Starlink has obtained licenses to operate in other Southern African countries, including Zambia, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi.
These regulatory challenges highlight the complexities and unique requirements of operating satellite internet services in different regions, and they could impact Starlink’s plans for expansion in Southern Africa.
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