IT LOOKS like South Africa is one step closer to getting Elon Musk’s Starlink and the connectivity it provides.

Communications and Digital Technology Minister Solly Malatsi said that he will issue a policy direction to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) so Starlink can bypass the Broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) rule.

The rule notes that global communication companies like Starlink must be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups if they want to operate in South Africa.

“It is my intention to issue a policy direction to Icasa in terms of section 3(2) of the Electronic Communications Act, to clarify the DCDT’s position on the recognition of equity equivalent programs, for urgent consideration,” the minister said.

“This is part of an initiative to significantly expand access to broadband connectivity to poor South Africans and people living in remote parts of the country,” he elaborated.

Good for businesses too

Malatsi said that broadband access makes it easier for people to start businesses, grow businesses, seek employment, work remotely, and market goods and services.

“Giving millions of South Africans access to broadband would therefore constitute one of the biggest empowerment programmes the South African government has ever undertaken,” he noted.

The minister said that getting better broadband connectivity in South Africa, and specifically Starlink, is a two part initiative.

“First, we need to lower regulatory hurdles to investment in cheap, reliable broadband. Second, we need to lower the price of the smart devices needed to use 4G and 5G data. I am focused on the first part. Announcements on the second part will follow in due course,” he said.

Ramaphosa meets Musk

In September, President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Musk in New York to discuss Starlink coming to SA.

Ramaphosa was in the US to lead a South African delegation to the 79th Session of the United Nations General Debate.

The president said that the meeting with the South African-born tech entrepreneur was positive.

“We had a good meeting,” Ramaphosa said, with Musk agreeing, stating that it was an absolutely good meeting.

Starlink is available in Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia.

Pricing

Those who have been accessing Starlink in SA through outside internet service providers (ISPs) have been paying around R1,299 since December 2023.

Mozambique-based StarSat Africa noted that its price was R1,799 but has since been dropped.

A Starlink kit will cost you R14,999, with a deposit of R1,999.

IcasaSePush, another ISP that offers Starlink also reduced its monthly fee from R1,499 to between R880 and R1,000.

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SA’s BEE policy could be bypassed to finally get Elon Musk’s Starlink