Starlink Frustrated by South Africa’s Delay in Approving Entry

SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, has voiced its discontent over the delayed regulatory process for launching its satellite internet service in South Africa. The delay comes despite a draft policy directive issued by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi in May. Speaking at the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town on Tuesday, Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Market Access and Development at SpaceX, highlighted that six months after the initial draft, the final directive remains unreleased. This would allow for equity equivalent licensing, a crucial factor for Starlink’s launch in South Africa.