SpaceX’s Starlink eyes expansion into Botswana following discussions with Government officials

Botswana’s head of state, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, engaged in discussions with senior representatives from SpaceX, who have shown a keen interest in securing a licence to operate within the nation. These discussions took place during a business summit held in the United States, where President Masisi had the opportunity to converse with the director responsible for SpaceX’s global licensing and activation, representing the company’s internet service provision arm.

Despite this high-level engagement, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) had previously made a decision in February 2024 to deny Starlink, a SpaceX internet service, the licence it sought to operate in Botswana. BOCRA’s decision was based on Starlink’s inability to fulfill all the necessary regulatory requirements as stipulated by the authority.

Following the rejection of the licence application, BOCRA took a more stringent step by imposing a prohibition on the importation, utilization, and commercial distribution of Starlink’s equipment and services within Botswana. This ban, enacted just two weeks after the initial licence rejection, effectively barred any presence of Starlink’s offerings in the country.

In a subsequent development during April 2024, Starlink communicated with its roaming customers via email, informing them of an impending service disruption. The company indicated that by the end of April, its services would cease to be available in areas where it had not obtained the necessary authorization, which includes Botswana. This move would result in the disconnection of both individuals and businesses that had been relying on Starlink’s services in these regions.

Botswana is not alone in its stance on Starlink’s operations. The service is also considered illegal in several other countries, among them Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and South Africa. In Zimbabwe, for instance, the telecommunications authority issued a directive to Starlink, instructing the company to terminate services for its subscribers in the country. Starlink adhered to this directive and notified its Zimbabwean user base through email communication.

In Zimbabwe, where the operation of Starlink is illegal, users have resorted to clandestine measures to circumvent the scrutiny of law enforcement. They have been creatively hiding their satellite Internet kits to avoid detection and continue accessing the Internet through Starlink’s services.

In Cameroon, the situation is tense as authorities express concerns that Starlink’s presence could potentially undermine Camtel, the state-owned Internet service provider that holds a significant position in the country’s telecommunications landscape. As a precautionary measure, Cameroonian officials have taken to confiscating Starlink kits at the border, holding them until the company receives the necessary regulatory approval to operate legally within the country.

On a more positive note, Ghana has managed to extricate itself from the list of African countries where Starlink is unlicensed. This change in status comes after the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana gave the green light for Starlink to commence its satellite broadband services within the nation. While the approval has been granted, the formalities involved in the actual issuance of the operational licence are still being processed.

The stance against Starlink in Ghana was quite firm when, in December 2023, the country declared the service illegal. The declaration was based on the grounds that any sales of Starlink equipment or provision of its services were in direct contravention of the Electronic Communications Act of 2008.

Despite these regulatory hurdles in various countries, Starlink remains optimistic about its expansion in the African region. According to the availability information provided on Starlink’s official website, the company anticipates that its devices will be accessible in the region by the third quarter of 2024. This projection suggests that Starlink is working towards meeting the regulatory requirements and securing the necessary approvals to operate legally across more countries on the continent.