By Edson Baraukwa | Africa Guardian
Botswana recently became the latest Southern African country to launch Starlink’s satellite internet services. This development follows the approval of a local license for Starlink, with Namibian telecom company Paratus signing on as the local reseller. Meanwhile, there is renewed hope that South Africa might eventually license Starlink in the future.
However, a notable gap remains on the Starlink availability map in Southern Africa: South Africa. While countries like Lesotho and Eswatini already have or will soon have access to Starlink, South Africa’s inclusion is still uncertain.
Botswana’s launch through Paratus may offer clues about Starlink’s plans for the region. Paratus is also expected to facilitate the service’s entry into Namibia later this year. The Namibian company had been preparing for months, and the license was recently confirmed by the Botswana government for Starlink’s low-earth orbit satellite internet.
“We are ready to provide Starlink services in Botswana and have already received numerous inquiries via our 24/7 help desk and website,” said Paratus Botswana Managing Director Shawn Bruwer. “We are delighted to be the first reseller to offer priority Starlink services in Botswana, especially to those in remote and rural areas who have been eagerly awaiting a reliable high-speed connection.”
The company added that purchasing directly from Paratus offers benefits such as in-country stock, round-the-clock telephonic support, installation services, technical advice, and handling warranty returns.
In contrast, the possibility of Starlink launching in South Africa remains slim due to licensing restrictions set by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). These rules include a requirement for a certain percentage of executives to be from historically disadvantaged groups—a condition Starlink has reportedly refused to meet.
However, ICASA recently invited public input on a proposed new licensing framework for satellite services, which could potentially pave the way for Starlink’s entry. “Interested persons and parties are invited to submit written representations of their views on the proposed new licensing framework for Satellite Services by no later than 16:00 on 12 November 2024,” ICASA stated in a notice.
“Starlink is a game-changer,” added Bruwer. “It provides an affordable and user-friendly satellite option that delivers high-speed broadband internet across the country. For Paratus Botswana, this is another demonstration of our commitment to Botswana and Vision 2036, and to connecting more people throughout the country.”
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