South Africa is calling on Elon Musk to work with the government to clear the regulatory hurdles preventing Starlink from launching its satellite internet service in the country.
Deputy Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele made the appeal at a Bloomberg-hosted event near Cape Town, urging Musk to find common ground with South Africa over its transformation and ownership requirements.
Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, has not launched commercially in South Africa. The country’s telecommunications licensing framework currently requires at least 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged South Africans for licensed telecommunications entities.
The ownership requirement has become a major point of disagreement, with Musk previously criticising the rules.
Government Says Talks Are Continuing
Gungubele said the government remains engaged with Starlink and wants to find a way forward that allows the company to operate while meeting South Africa’s legal requirements.
The issue has been debated within government, with a 2025 policy direction proposing that qualifying international companies could potentially meet transformation obligations through equity-equivalent investments, including investment in local businesses, skills development, infrastructure and digital inclusion.
However, Parliament’s communications committee and ICASA have maintained that the existing 30% ownership requirement remains part of the current legal framework.
Starlink would offer satellite-based broadband connectivity, particularly in areas where traditional fixed-line or mobile infrastructure can be difficult or expensive to deploy.
For now, the two sides remain in discussions, with no confirmed launch date for Starlink in South Africa.
Main Image: Space
