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Residents in South Africa utilizing Starlink's satellite Internet service for roaming are facing increasing difficulties. This dilemma arises primarily due to the need for these devices to be used frequently in their country of registration, a policy enforced more stringently as of late. Despite not officially launching in South Africa, many have benefitted from Starlink by purchasing kits abroad, thanks primarily to its superior connectivity in rural regions where Internet options are limited.
However, challenges escalated when Starlink, operated by SpaceX, began enforcing its roaming terms which mandate a reset of the device in the country of registration every two months. This stipulation is part of an effort to prevent misuse of more economically priced roaming plans by citizens of wealthier nations. While initially these threats seemed hollow, by August 2024, Starlink decisively cut off users exceeding the allowed 60-day roaming period.
Contingently, some South Africans have navigated these restrictions by registering their kits in neighboring countries like Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, where Starlink has officially launched. This workaround involved travelling to these nations to 'phone home'—a method of renewing service by connecting the kit to the network in its registered country. This method was viable until late October 2024 when Starlink ceased new roaming sales in Africa and prohibited changing the home country on existing accounts.
More recently, the enforcement has gotten even stricter. Some users attempting to reactivate their service by visiting their registration country and reconnecting their kits have found that upon returning to South Africa, their access was reblocked. Engagements with Starlink support suggested the necessity of staying several months in the registration country for a kit reset, an untenable solution for most.
Compounding the issue, Starlink support hinted that the non-availability of roaming in the region was due to network congestion. They stated that the resumption of new roaming subscriptions might only be feasible with the establishment of a ground station in Southern Africa.
Despite these barriers, some users still find sporadic success. Techniques such as spending extended periods in the registration country, like Eswatini, and ensuring the kit remains online before returning, have proven somewhat effective. Prior to resettling in South Africa, users are advised to power down their kits and utilize the Starlink app to confirm the absence of service restrictions.
This situation underscores the complexities and evolving challenges of utilizing global tech advancements like Starlink in regions where official support and infrastructure lag. For now, South Africans reliant on this service must navigate an increasingly intricate web of regulations and technical requirements.