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…
Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi has put his stamp on one of the most contentious issues in South Africa’s ICT sector: how black economic empowerment is applied to companies, like Elon Musk’s Starlink, that cannot, or will not, dilute ownership in their local operations. In a final policy directive published on Friday…
Vodacom Group has announced a “pivotal” agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink to significantly expand internet access across Africa, targeting businesses and accelerating rural network coverage. Read: Discovery Bank partners with Luno in SA for crypto trading The core of the partnership involves integrating Starlink’s satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s existing mobile network. This strategic integration is…
Dominic Cull Ryan Goodnight, senior director of market access and development at SpaceX, told Africa Tech Festival attendees last week that Starlink could launch in South Africa “tomorrow” if four lines in the licensing regulations were deleted. But communications lawyer Dominic Cull of Ellipsis Regulatory Solutions is unequivocal: not only is that timeline impossible but…
The most direct competitor to Starlink, Amazon.com’s Project Kuiper, has changed its name to Amazon Leo. According to a statement on Thursday, the “Leo” in the new name refers to low-Earth orbit, aligning the brand more closely with the type of service it provides to its customers. “Like most early Amazon projects, the programme needed…
