Starlink concessions for South Africa
October 8, 2025
By Chris Forrester
Elon Musk’s Starlink service is offering some major concessions to South Africa in an attempt to get permission to launch services in the country.
Starlink has itemised significant investment promises for the government. Ryan Goodnight, senior director in charge of market access at Starlink has reportedly raised a few key points at the AGM of South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association.
He outlined:
1. Starlink is investing heavily in ground stations and points of presence (PoPs) – the “brains” of its global network – and is looking at placing a few in South Africa.
2. Starlink proposes spending R500-million (about €25m) on an “equity equivalence” programme to connect 5,000 schools with free internet and hardware.
3. It also plans to invest about R2-billion in local infrastructure, including gateways, PoPs, leased land, power, fibre and local staffing.
4. Starlink wants to partner with local ISPs for installation, maintenance and reseller roles rather than going it alone.
5. The company wants to work with the National Sea Rescue Institute to equip rescue vessels with Starlink for maritime safety.
In essence, Starlink is saying that it will comply with South Africa’s black economic empowerment legislation. Goodnight explained that despite SpaceX’s intention to secure an operating licence in every country in which it wants to operate, it will partner with local resellers, including ISPs, in both the retail and enterprise markets. He stressed that Starlink complies with local laws in every market in which it is licensed and will do the same in South Africa.
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