Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub Vodacom Group has announced what it has described as a “pivotal” agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide internet access to businesses across Africa. The agreement will also result in expanded rural network coverage. “Integrating Starlink’s satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s mobile network will accelerate network coverage expansion while increasing network…
European aerospace groups unveiled a preliminary deal on Thursday to pool their loss-making satellite manufacturing activities, combining forces after months of negotiations to counter the runaway growth of rivals led by Elon Musk’s Starlink. The keenly awaited deal between Airbus, Thales and Leonardo would create a new venture starting from 2027, subject to approval by…
Elon Musk’s SpaceX says it has cut Starlink satellite communication links to more than 2,500 devices used by scam compounds in Myanmar. More than 30 compounds are believed to be operating along the Thai-Myanmar border, where people from around the world are trafficked and forced to work on scams generating tens of billions of dollars…
SpaceX achieved a monumental milestone on Sunday, successfully launching 56 additional Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This latest deployment officially pushed the total number of satellites launched by the company past the 10,000 mark. Read: Google South Africa launches AI glossary in Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans The record-setting launch was accomplished using a…
In this episode of ITWeb TV, news editor Admire Moyo speaks to Q-KON group CEO, Dr Dawie de Wet about the state of satellite broadband internet connectivity in SA and the company’s plans, as Starlink’s SA launch remains in limbo. He also touches on the impact of space debris as a result of LEO satellites…
Starlink, the satellite internet division of SpaceX, has affirmed its commitment to launching in South Africa, announcing plans to spend R2.5 billion on local infrastructure and pledging compliance with Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation. Read: Sony ULT Field 5 Review: ULTimately Based Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Market Access at SpaceX, delivered the update at…
Starlink will comply with South African black economic empowerment legislation, is ready to launch services in the country and will spend R2.5-billion doing so, a company executive said on Tuesday. Ryan Goodnight, senior director in charge of market access at Starlink owner SpaceX, told the annual general meeting of South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association…
Paratus Group executive chairman Barney Harmse joins the TechCentral Show to share the story of the telecommunications group’s rise from small beginnings in Angola and Namibia more than 20 years ago and how it became one of Southern Africa’s biggest ICT infrastructure players. Paratus started life in Angola in 2003, evolving from a local internet…
Starlink operator SpaceX “cannot undermine the sovereignty of South Africa” if it wishes to operate in the country. This was the message from Khusela Sangoni-Diko, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, during a wide-ranging interview with ITWeb TV. She also reflected on the workings of the committee under the Government of…
The author, Jessica Gbedemah When Elon Musk claimed earlier this year that Starlink was being blocked in South Africa because of black economic empowerment rules, it ignited a debate that went far beyond satellite internet. Communications regulator Icasa quickly countered that no application for a licence had been received. The clash has left South Africa…
