Big Starlink BEE lie in South Africa
January 4th 2026
Starlink owner SpaceX says claims that it will receive special treatment or workarounds to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) laws are misleading.
In an email sent to people in South Africa who expressed interest in buying Starlink services, SpaceX said that it was one step closer to becoming available in the country.
“South Africa is closer than ever to a transformative digital breakthrough,” SpaceX stated in its letter, sent on Friday, 2 January 2026.
“The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies has issued a policy directive to ICASA that instructs them to update their licensing regulations to match the law.”
This includes recognising B-BBEE-qualifying Equity Equivalent Investment Programs (EEIPs) in the ICT sector.
“This directive was supported by 90% of South Africans during a recent public consultation and would allow Starlink and other global companies to obtain the required licenses,” SpaceX stated.
“Only one step remains: ICASA must implement the directive. By correcting just four sentences in the licensing regulations, Starlink service could be available nationwide within weeks.”
SpaceX emphasised that it has not asked for, nor would it receive any special treatment. “Once licensed, Starlink will operate as a fully B-BBEE-compliant entity,” it said.
It affirmed its proposed R500 million commitment to provide free, high-speed internet and hardware to 5,000 rural schools.
“This will benefit more than 2.4 million learners a year through partnerships with local organisations and communities,” SpaceX said.
“By empowering the youth of South Africa, Starlink will play a critical role in the country’s transformation journey.”
SpaceX asked South Africans who want Starlink services in the country to send a letter of support to ICASA, for which it provided a template.
“Your support can help accelerate this decision and quickly bring connectivity to the communities that need it now,” the company said.
“Every day of delay keeps millions offline. Time is of the essence. Thank you for helping South Africa move quickly from policy to progress and bringing reliable, high-speed internet to every corner of the country.”
Politically polarising broadband
Starlink has been politically divisive since it was revealed that SpaceX had deprioritised its South African launch due to the country’s equity ownership requirements for telecommunications licensing.
All telecommunication infrastructure or service licensees with a national footprint must be at least 30% owned by historically disadvantaged people.
However, controversial remarks by South African–born SpaceX owner Elon Musk about his home country turned Starlink into a political lightning rod.
Musk has said that Starlink could not launch in South Africa because he was not black. He has also said that South Africa has “racist ownership laws”.
Most controversially, he previously aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump in characterising farm murders in South Africa as a “white genocide”.
Specifically, Musk accused the South African government of doing too little to stop a “genocide” against white farmers.
“The legacy media never mentions white genocide in South Africa, because it doesn’t fit their narrative that whites can be victims,” he said in a March 2025 post on Twitter/X.
Policy direction
Communication minister Solly Malatsi’s policy direction instructs Icasa to revise its controversial 2021 regulations to align with the Amended Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) ICT Sector Code.
He said that the direction has regard for “the need to promote numerous policy goals for the sector in relation to the availability, accessibility and affordability of communications services”.
It also takes into account the contribution to investment and competition that can be made by international entities, and considers the overriding provisions of the BBBEE Act.
In addition to aligning its regulations with the ICT Sector Code, Icasa is directed to take account of government’s national economic inclusion policy goals.
Within the scope of its own powers and duties under the ECA and the Icasa Act, the regulator must give effect to these policy goals.
Malatsi said that, as far as possible, Icasa must ensure parity among licensees and promote the rollout of broadband to bridge the digital divide.
Icasa must also ensure the preservation of South Africa’s digital sovereignty by encouraging adherence to South Africa’s data protection and data security policies.
Back