Starlink has not applied for SA operating licence — minister

COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi this week said that Elon Musk’s broadband internet service, Starlink, has not submitted any applications to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to operate in the country.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA and AFP

Malatsi was responding to written parliamentary questions from ANC MP Imraan Subrathie, who sought clarity on the status of Starlink’s licence application with Icasa and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) compliance requirements that remain outstanding.

Subrathie also asked whether there had been any engagement between the department and Musk’s space company, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), regarding a lawful and transformation-compliant pathway for entering the South African market.

In his response, Malatsi said Icasa had confirmed that it had not received any licence applications from Starlink for spectrum, Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS), or Individual Electronic Communications Service (I-ECS) licences. He added that Icasa had also not received any applications for the transfer of such licences.

Addressing the issue of B-BBEE compliance conditions, Malatsi said the question was not applicable because ‘no application has been received’.