South African Government to Stop Illegal Use of Starlink Internet
The South African government has promised to take strong action against people using Starlink Internet in the country without permission. Starlink, which is run by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, has not been given a license to operate in South Africa. Still, many people are finding other ways to connect to its internet service.
The country’s communications authority, called ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), said that some South Africans are buying Starlink devices from overseas sellers. They are using the devices’ international roaming feature to connect to Starlink’s internet even though it’s not allowed.
On Wednesday, ICASA released a statement saying it is very concerned about reports that Starlink might be offering its internet in South Africa without proper approval.
This situation comes as Elon Musk and the South African government are in disagreement. South African law says that for a company to get a telecom license, 30% of the company must be owned by people who were disadvantaged during apartheid. This is part of the country’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules.
ICASA explained that according to government rules, all companies offering internet or communication services in South Africa must follow the law and meet all regulatory requirements. Because of the growing number of reports, ICASA has started a formal investigation to check if Starlink is really being used illegally in the country. They are also asking the public and companies to send any evidence they may have to help the investigation.
ICASA has contacted SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, to get more information and is waiting for a reply. In the meantime, ICASA has sent teams to visit the areas where the illegal use of Starlink is suspected. They are working with other parts of the government to carry out these checks in a legal and organized way.
If they find out that Starlink has broken any laws or rules, the government may take further action, including making a formal complaint to the International Telecommunication Union.
Even though Starlink is not officially allowed in South Africa, many people are still using it. They buy the kits from other countries where Starlink is allowed and then bring them to South Africa. To work around Starlink’s 60-day roaming limit, users take the device back to its original country for a day and then bring it back to South Africa again.
There are signs that South Africa may be open to letting Starlink operate in the future. Last week, the new Communications Minister, Solly Malatsi, suggested changing the rules to let foreign companies like Starlink work in South Africa without needing to give 30% ownership to local Black partners. Instead, they could offer something equal in value, known as an “equity equivalent.”
However, this idea was criticized in Parliament. The ANC, the country’s ruling party, said that this plan could allow foreign companies to enter the country unfairly and ignore the needs of Black South Africans who were disadvantaged in the past. The ANC said, “We will not allow our laws to be changed from outside the country, like in Washington.”
South Africa created the BEE rules after the end of apartheid to help Black people, who were kept out of the economy by the former white-led government. Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, recently criticized these race-based rules. He said they are “openly racist” and claimed his internet company is having problems because he is not Black.
Despite these challenges, many South Africans are excited about Starlink. The service uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide fast internet. This could be very helpful for South Africans, especially those living in rural areas. A 2023 report showed that only 1.7% of homes in rural areas have internet access.
While Starlink is still waiting for approval to operate legally in South Africa, the service is growing in other parts of Africa. It is already available in 21 African countries and continues to expand.
