SpaceX’s Starlink direct-to-home broadband system has 524,863 users in Spain, ahead of longstanding operators such as Adamo and PTV. But in South Africa, Starlink has hit a roadblock.

The Spanish data comes from APNIC statistics reported by Spanish web-site Banda Ancha, and converts into Spain’s sixth-largest ISP.

Starlink does not release country-specific numbers but Spain’s telecoms regulator, CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) quotes the numbers although does not identify the operator.

While this is an undoubted success for Starlink, SpaceX and Elon Musk are not having anything like a similar success in South Africa. SpaceX is expanding a public advocacy campaign as it pushes for South Africa license approval. Starlink intensified its campaign to secure a South African operating licence – publishing an advocacy page on its website that directly addresses consumers and attempts to counter government negativity.

Starlink’s web-site has a dedicated page relating its efforts in South Africa, and features a point-by-point ‘myths and facts’ section that takes aim at concerns raised by critics about black economic empowerment, national security, monopoly risk and the company’s commitment to the local market.

Ryan Goodnight, senior director in charge of market access at Starlink raised a few key points at the annual general meeting of South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association:

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 Rand500-million 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.

Goodnight said Starlink complies with local laws in every market in which it is licensed and will do the same in South Africa. He stressed, however, that the company does not wish to sell equity in its local subsidiary and needs an amendment to regulations around equity rules before it can invest and launch services here.

Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Starlink is providing 80 per cent of the country’s use of international internet bandwidth. Starlink’s sales in Zimbabwe are booming. Within a year of its launch, it had more than 50,000 customers. The government is also distributing 8,000 Starlink units to schools across country

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Categories: Blogs, Broadband, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: south africa, spain, starlink, zimbabwe