Starlink disconnects South Africa – what are regulations in Kenya?

Many people who had been using Starlink in South Africa took to local
Starlink Facebook groups over the weekend, complaining that their services
had been terminated.

Starlink, sent emails to customers accessing services in countries where
the satellite internet provider didn’t have regulatory approval earlier
this month. The company said their services would be off after 21 August.

Safaricom had written to Communications Authority of Kenya for regulations
around global satellite companies like Starlink. What is the stand of the
Kenyan regulator on Starlink entry into Kenya, and what are the license
fees paid? Let us remember Airtel and Safaricom each paid around USD 25m
for 4G license and nearly a similar amount for 5G license.
Starlink has not applied for a licence to operate in South Africa, with
ownership equity requirements in the Electronic Communication Act thought
to be the biggest stumbling block. The act requires holders of
communications licences to be 30%-owned by historically disadvantaged
groups.

While it has not been possible to import a Starlink kit or take out a
subscription in South Africa, some people got around this by taking out a
regional roaming package that allows the kit to be used beyond the borders
of the home country. Users could then bring the kit into South Africa.

The Independent Communications Regulator of South Africa (Icasa) published
a Government Gazette notice late last year, which stated that using a
Starlink in this way was illegal.

Until now, though, the illegal connections had largely been untroubled and
unpunished.

Icasa, South African regulator signalled its intent to hold an inquiry to
look into new satellite rules in South Africa in a Government Gazette
published on 14 August

More here
www.news24.com/fin24/companies/starlinks-sa-users-are-finally-running-out-of-road-20240827

Best Regards
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva
www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva