Elon Musk’s satellite service. company, Starlink has launched its services in the Southern African country of Zimbabwe. This is coming three months after the country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa announced an approval of a license that will allow the internet service company to operate.
Starlink’s official handle posted on X over the weekend that its “high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Zimbabwe” to signal a take-off. The hardware will cost $350, $24 for shipping, Starlink Mini for $200 and about $50 for the monthly subscription.
During President Mnangagwa’s announcement in May, he explained that Starlink will provide services through its sole and exclusive local partner, IMC Communications. The internet service did not confirm the details in its announcement.
The government of Zimbabwe in a statement said that it is hopeful that the launch will “result in the deployment of high speed, low cost, LEO (low-Earth-orbit) internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe and particularly in all the rural areas”.
Starlink’s launch in Zimbabwe is coming two weeks after it launched in Botswana. This makes it the fastest-growing internet service as it is now available in over 107 countries globally and in 16 African countries. The internet company has also launched in South Sudan and Ghana in the past month.
The license approval and eventual launch follows a government crackdown episode on unregistered users smuggling Starlink kits from neighbouring countries like Zambia.
Recall that we reported that the government of Zimbabwe ordered the company to shut down its services in the country. The order was issued by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) in an email.
“You are currently using Starlink in an unauthorised territory, As a result. Starlink has been directed by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to disable your service. As described In your Terms of Service, Starlink does not guarantee when or where its Mobile or Mobile Priority Services Plans will be available. Use of such services Is dependent on many factors, including obtaining or maintaining the necessary regulatory approvals which are subject to change,” the mail reads in part.
What is holding Starlink up in South Africa?
South Africa is now one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have an estimated in-service date. It was reported in April that Starlink is not going to work in South Africa because the company didn’t want to share ownership with locals as per the government’s requirements.
Starlink refused to comply with the country’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) requirements to gift 30% ownership to local historically disadvantaged people. Also, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Minister of Communications have failed to issue new communications licences in about 13 years.
Icasa says it has not received any application for a licence from Starlink, nor has the company approached the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), according to a report.
“It is of utmost importance to note that all licence applications have to go through Icasa and not DCDT,” they said.
Ironically, Icasa has not yet enacted its new regulations, leaving the future of Starlink in South Africa uncertain. The delay and confusion surrounding these regulations may have rendered Starlink’s withdrawal unnecessary.
However, in another report this July, it is said that Starlink’s satellite Internet service has remained online in South Africa for over two months despite warnings that it would cut off people using its roaming service in areas with no official support. The broadband service’s roaming has been working in South Africa since at least early 2023.
“Service date is unknown at this time,” according to an official map showing Starlink’s global launch plans as of press time.
Other countries in the region with published forecast go-live dates include Mauritius (sometime in 2025), Angola (fourth quarter of 2024), Tanzania (also Q4 2024), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2025), Comoros (2025) and the Seychelles (2025).
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