A Starlink dish placed on a fence next to a house illustrates Gbadebo’s Starlink setup. Despite warnings about cutting off users accessing its roaming service in areas without official availability, SpaceX’s satellite Internet service, Starlink, has remained online in South Africa, according to MyBroadband.
Over two months ago, Starlink emailed its roaming customers, informing them they would no longer be able to access its satellite Internet service in regions where the company is not authorized to operate, including South Africa. However, since then, three African nations—Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Botswana—that initially deemed Starlink illegal have granted the company operational approval.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) warned in November 2023 that using or providing access to Starlink services in South Africa is illegal. Icasa explained that operators like Starlink need Individual Electronic Communications Service (I-ECS) and Individual Electronic Network Service (I-ECNS) licenses to offer services legally in South Africa.
According to Starlink’s availability map, the service date for South Africa remains unknown. However, it has reportedly been operational in the country since at least early 2023.
Obtaining a Starlink kit in South Africa involves third-party routes and countries where it is officially approved. Interested users order the kit, register it, and have it delivered to an address in an officially supported country or use a third-party importer like IcasaSePush, which sources and delivers it.
Speaking to MyBroadband, the company stated that sales of Starlink kits fluctuated in May 2024 but increased again in June. The decline was attributed to the warning notice from Starlink, which scared away new customers who feared being cut off at any moment. According to the report, IcasaSePush expects sales to progress again in July 2024.