“Three African Nations Where Elon Musk’s Starlink Service Is Prohibited”

Business Insider Africa presents three African countries where the use of Elon Musk’s Starlink is illegal.

Starlink had ambitious plans to expand its services to 19 additional African countries in 2023 and 2024. However, its journey in Africa has encountered regulatory hurdles.

When Elon Musk’s Starlink made its debut in Nigeria in January 2023, it promised to revolutionize high-speed internet access in Africa’s most populous nation. Starlink aimed to provide low-latency internet to regions where reliable connectivity had been a challenge.

Currently, Starlink has expanded its reach to several African nations, including Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone. The company has plans to launch in 19 more African countries in the coming years.

Nevertheless, Starlink’s operations in Africa have faced regulatory obstacles, particularly in a continent where only 40% of its population of over 1.3 billion has internet access, the lowest rate globally.

Here are the African countries where the use of Starlink is prohibited.

South Africa

A standard model of SpaceX’s Starlink dish.

On August 14, 2023, South Africa imposed a ban on the importation of Starlink kits. The telecommunications regulatory authority of South Africa has instructed a local Internet Service Provider (ISP) to cease acquiring, distributing, and facilitating the sale of any Starlink products that provide satellite access to Starlink services in South Africa.

This ban is rooted in a legal stipulation outlined in the Electronics Communications Act (ECA). According to this act, a company must have historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs) owning a minimum of 30% of its shares before it can obtain the requisite telecommunications licenses to operate a broadband service within the country.

HDGs encompass individuals from black communities, youth, women, and people with disabilities. Since Starlink has not fulfilled this requirement, it has been unable to secure the necessary telecommunications licenses for local operation.

Zimbabwe

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) issued a stern warning to both Starlink users and resellers, emphasizing the imperative need for them to secure the requisite licenses for lawful operation.

To legally operate within this southern African nation, the regulatory body has outlined two viable options: Starlink can either directly apply for a license or collaborate with an established public network registered within the country to provide its services.

The regulatory authority has expressed concerns regarding unlicensed entities distributing customer premises equipment for satellite-based internet services. Even local resellers are required to secure virtual network operator (VNO) agreements with Starlink for approval after acquiring a local license. Currently, operating telecommunications equipment without a valid license constitutes a statutory offense, subject to legal consequences.

Zimbabwe

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) issued a stern warning to both Starlink users and resellers, emphasizing the imperative need for them to secure the requisite licenses for lawful operation.

To legally operate within this southern African nation, the regulatory body has outlined two viable options: Starlink can either directly apply for a license or collaborate with an established public network registered within the country to provide its services.

The regulatory authority has expressed concerns regarding unlicensed entities distributing customer premises equipment for satellite-based internet services. Even local resellers are required to secure virtual network operator (VNO) agreements with Starlink for approval after acquiring a local license. Currently, operating telecommunications equipment without a valid license constitutes a statutory offense, subject to legal consequences.