South Africa’s communications regulator has provided fresh clarification on what Starlink and other satellite internet providers must do before they can legally begin operations in the country.
According to a notice published in the Government Gazette and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa stated that satellite operators cannot simply activate their services. Instead, they must first obtain the required communications and radio frequency spectrum licences or acquire an existing licence from another operator where the regulations permit.
The clarification follows months of uncertainty over the exact regulatory requirements Starlink must satisfy before entering the South African market.
Although the announcement does not signal an immediate launch for Starlink, it offers greater clarity on the licensing process for companies planning to provide satellite internet services in the country.
ICASA explained that operators intending to offer internet services directly to consumers must secure a full set of licences, including Electronic Communications Service, Electronic Communications Network Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences.
Companies focusing solely on wholesale services are also required to obtain network and spectrum licences before commencing operations.
The regulator further noted that applications for certain licences can only begin after it issues an Invitation to Apply, a process that follows a policy directive from the Minister of Communications.
Starlink’s planned entry into South Africa has become one of the continent’s most closely watched telecommunications policy issues.
Although the company has repeatedly expressed interest in launching its services in the country, it has not yet submitted a formal licence application.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has continued to advocate for Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes as an alternative way for multinational companies to meet South Africa’s empowerment requirements instead of transferring ownership stakes to local investors.
The proposal has generated significant political debate, with opponents arguing that it could weaken the country’s Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment framework.
The regulatory discussion has continued for more than a year. In May 2025, Malatsi proposed reforms that could make it easier for international companies such as Starlink to qualify for operating licences.
By December 2025, he formally directed ICASA to review its existing regulations. Earlier this year, Starlink also encouraged South Africans to support the proposed reforms, maintaining that changes to the current rules would allow it to deliver internet services to underserved communities more quickly.
Despite those developments, ICASA has consistently maintained that Starlink remains unlicensed and cannot legally operate in South Africa until it complies with all regulatory requirements.
For now, the regulator’s latest notice provides a clearer pathway for entry, but key issues surrounding ownership and empowerment policies remain unresolved.
Until those regulatory matters are addressed and the required licences are secured, South Africa will continue to be one of the few major African markets where Starlink’s satellite internet service is not officially available, even as the company expands its presence across other parts of the continent.
