EU commissioner for defence and space Andrius Kubilius. Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander The EU’s multi-orbit array of 290 satellites known as Iris2 should be able to start initial communication services in 2029, marking an acceleration in the bloc’s space industry efforts, the EU defence and space commissioner said on Tuesday. Iris2 is a response to Elon Musk’s…
South African media has been saturated with Starlink coverage for months. Every ministerial statement, every regulatory development, every parliamentary objection becomes headline news. Yet amid this relentless coverage, a curious question emerges: why Starlink specifically? The regulatory challenges facing Elon Musk’s satellite service aren’t unique. Major global technology companies have long navigated South Africa’s broad-based…
Iran’s crackdown on dissidents is shaping up as one of the toughest security tests yet for Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has served as a lifeline against state-imposed internet blackouts since its deployment during the war in Ukraine. SpaceX, which owns Starlink, made the satellite service free for Iranians earlier this week, placing Musk’s space company…
ITWeb contributor Phillip de Wet. What happens if the United Kingdom blocks X? Last week that was a silly question, on which bookmakers offered silly odds. On Monday, a member of Cabinet stood in the UK Parliament and vowed to – within days – activate legislation that would leave X and its users open to…
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi Starlink’s proposed entry into South Africa is facing mounting political backlash, driven by concerns over owner Elon Musk’s conduct and public statements. Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi and parliament’s communications & digital technologies portfolio chair, Khuselo Diko, have both taken to social media to voice their opposition to Musk and…
Starlink’s roaming satellite option. Low-Earth orbit satellite provider Starlink has sent a message to its SA database encouraging them to email the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) asking it to extend the definition of empowerment ownership. The internet service provider, owned by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, wants ICASA to accept the policy direction gazetted…
Starlink satellites being blasted into space aboard a SpaceX rocket in an undated file photo Starlink will begin a reconfiguration of its satellite constellation by lowering all of its satellites orbiting at around 550km to the lower orbit of 480km over the course of 2026, Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, said on…
Airtel Africa said on Tuesday it has partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology to all of its 14 markets. The satellite-to-mobile service will begin across Africa in 2026, with data for select applications and text messaging, Airtel Africa said in a statement. Airtel Africa customers with compatible smartphones in regions without terrestrial…
SpaceX’s Starlink said one of its satellites experienced an anomaly in space on Wednesday that created a “small number” of debris and cut off communications with the spacecraft at 418km in altitude, a rare kinetic accident in orbit for the satellite internet giant. “The satellite is largely intact, tumbling, and will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and…
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi. The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the African National Congress (ANC) are calling for the immediate withdrawal of the policy direction issued by minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, on the role of equity equivalent investment programmes…
