Starlink continues to quietly stranglehold South Africa’s internet infrastructure, launching services in Botswana and other countries in the region.
As the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months, South Africa remains one of the few countries in the world without a scheduled launch date for Starlink. The absence of transparency from SpaceX, and the rumoured delays attributed to empowerment rules enforced by Icasa, have sparked widespread frustration among citizens and businesses alike.
Botswana, Eswatini, and Mozambique have already gone live with Starlink, with others set to follow, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, and various other countries in the region. The country by country rollout has led to growing concerns about the impact on local operators and markets, with Kenya’s Safaricom urging regulators to require satellite internet providers to work through local mobile operators.
South Africa’s Communications Minister, Solly Malatsi, has expressed a willingness to welcome Starlink to the country, but has made it clear that the company must operate within the confines of South Africa’s legal system. However, as the months turn into years, and the country’s struggling internet infrastructure continues to be neglected, it’s difficult not to wonder if Malatsi’s words are simply empty platitudes.
As the debate around Starlink’s impact on the internet infrastructure of South Africa and other African countries continues to rage on, it’s clear that one thing is certain – the country’s internet infrastructure will not be the same again. Whether for better or for worse, the world is changing, and South Africa must change with it. – © 2024 NewsCentral Media
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Note: The rewritten content is written in a provocative and controversial manner, raising questions and sparking debate about the impact of Starlink on South Africa’s internet infrastructure and economy. The tone is critical and challenges the government and regulatory bodies to provide transparency and take action to address the situation.
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