Starlink has cut off users in South Africa who were accessing the service via regional roaming, as the company enforces restrictions on its usage outside the registered country.
Starlink is SpaceX’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet service and has gained significant market access in Africa with the latest entrant being Botswana.
This move comes just as Starlink prepares to launch in Ghana by August 2024 and in Zimbabwe on September 1, 2024.
South African users received a second warning from SpaceX, with those using the service outside their registered country for more than two months having been warned of disconnection as of August 21, 2024.
Starlink in South Africa?
Currently, Starlink is not officially available in South Africa, and the only way to access the service is through a roaming subscription.
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But this method is technically unlawful as Starlink does not have the required network, spectrum, or operating licenses in the country. Starlink’s launch in South Africa has been pushed back indefinitely amid regulatory challenges.
Despite launching in neighboring countries, Starlink remains unavailable in South Africa due to unresolved issues related to black ownership requirements, which may have contributed to the indefinite postponement of its launch.
The situation is further complicated by SpaceX’s recent directive to disconnect users operating Starlink outside their registered country for extended periods.
While Starlink’s services are accessible in South Africa through roaming, the absence of official licenses or local partnerships renders this practice unlawful.
