Reports indicate that some users in South Africa who were utilizing Starlink services without proper licensing have been disconnected by the satellite internet service provider after repeated warnings.
To comply with regulations set by the country’s telecoms regulator, certain ownership criteria need to be met by foreign companies like Starlink. Failure to meet these requirements led to the disconnection of users.
In an attempt to continue using the service, some individuals in South Africa resorted to creative methods such as using roaming services and purchasing Starlink kits through third-party resellers in countries where the service was legally operating.
Despite efforts by regulators to address the situation, challenges persist in granting operational clearance to Starlink in African countries due to concerns over content control and accountability for data transmitted via the satellite signals.
Issues surrounding Starlink’s operations have also arisen in Kenya, where the largest telecommunications company has raised concerns about potential anti-competitive practices and has requested regulatory action against Starlink.
For the affected users in South Africa, options are limited, with suggestions including relocating to countries where they accessed the service through roaming or awaiting regulatory resolutions to the Starlink situation in Kenya.