Interest in low-earth-orbit satellite Internet service by Starlink has been rapidly growing, especially across Africa, where access to high-speed Internet is often limited.
Many users in countries where Starlink has not yet received local licenses have been utilizing the Starlink Roaming plan as a workaround, allowing them to access the service despite regulatory restrictions.
However, recent developments indicate a major shift, as SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, has officially discontinued its Roaming plan across all African countries.
The Roaming Plan Workaround for Unlicensed Regions
Previously, Starlink’s Roaming plan offered a lifeline for users in African countries where the service wasn’t licensed.
Customers could purchase a Starlink kit from a licensed neighboring country and register under the Roaming plan, which permitted usage for 60 days outside the country of purchase.
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Priced at $100 per month (about KES 13,000), the Roaming plan quickly became popular among users who wished to access Starlink’s high-speed satellite Internet despite regulatory challenges.
This workaround was particularly popular in countries like South Africa, where users registered in neighboring nations to circumvent the local unavailability.
No More Starlink Roaming in Africa
Starlink’s decision to end the Roaming plan in Africa marks a significant shift in accessibility for its users.
As of now, attempting to sign up for the Starlink Roam service from any African country on Starlink’s website triggers an error message stating:
“Starlink Roam is not available in your area. Please select a valid country where Starlink Roam can be purchased and shipped.”
Additionally, the list of “valid countries” no longer includes any African nations, effectively cutting off access to Roaming in the entire continent.
Limited Licensing Across the Continent
Starlink is currently licensed to operate in only a handful of African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Benin, Malawi, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Zambia.
For those in unlicensed territories, such as South Africa, the removal of the Roaming plan creates a connectivity gap.
Previously, South African users relied on Roaming to access Starlink through neighboring countries every 60 days, traveling outside their borders to reset their subscription.
This option has now been entirely removed, meaning South African users are left without access until Starlink secures an official launch in the country.
Challenges to Starlink’s Launch in South Africa
South Africa presents a unique regulatory challenge to Starlink’s launch due to its requirements on local ownership.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) mandates that telecommunications operators must have at least 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) to qualify for a license. These stipulations have thus far prevented Starlink from entering the South African market officially.
South Africa’s Communications Minister, Solly Malatsi, recently indicated plans to direct Icasa to consider equity-equivalent programs, which could pave the way for Starlink to obtain a license.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also extended an invitation to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, during a meeting in New York, to bring Starlink to South Africa, his birthplace. These efforts highlight the importance of the service in bridging connectivity gaps, though regulatory hurdles remain a significant barrier.
The Future of Starlink in Africa
Starlink’s decision to discontinue the Roaming plan across Africa raises questions about the future of satellite-based Internet solutions on the continent.
As regulatory negotiations continue, the need for affordable, accessible, and high-speed Internet in Africa grows more pressing.
Until Starlink can expand its licenses or negotiate favorable regulatory conditions in unlicensed regions, users in countries without Starlink access will need to explore alternative options or wait for further developments.
This development illustrates the challenges faced by new technologies when adapting to diverse regulatory landscapes.
