Botswana Welcomes Starlink as South Africa Awaits Launch Date

Botswana has officially entered the high-speed internet era with the launch of SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, making it the third country bordering South Africa to benefit from this advanced technology. As Botswana celebrates this milestone, anticipation grows in South Africa, where a launch date has yet to be announced.

The arrival of Starlink in Botswana follows the country's telecommunications regulator's swift action to grant the necessary operational license in May, after President Mokgweetsi Masisi met with Starlink executives. This proactive approach contrasts sharply with the situation in South Africa, which, curiously, remains without a projected service commencement date, as stated on Starlink’s global outreach map. Speculation suggests that the delay might stem from compliance with empowerment regulations as mandated by South Africa’s communications regulator, Icasa.

Meanwhile, other neighboring countries such as Eswatini and Mozambique are already enjoying the perks of Starlink, and expansion plans are evident, with Zimbabwe and Lesotho set to go live by the third quarter of 2024 and Namibia by the year’s end.

Starlink also has its sights on the broader Southern African region, with services available in Madagascar, Zambia, Malawi, and even the islands of Mayotte and Reunion. Prospects for rollouts in Mauritius, Angola, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, and Seychelles are targeted for 2024 and beyond.

However, this rapid deployment has sparked conversations about the effects on local telecom operators. Safaricom, Kenya’s leading network operator, has voiced its reservations, urging regulatory authorities to impose collaboration mandates between satellite internet providers like Starlink and local mobile operators, to balance competitive interests.

In South Africa, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi affirmed the country’s openness to Starlink's arrival but underscored the necessity for the company’s operations to align with local laws.

The broadening horizons presented by Starlink’s ingress into African markets betray a promising yet complex narrative, one of advancement shadowed by the need for careful regulatory oversight and equitable market considerations.