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Starlink users in South Africa will have their satellite internet services terminated at the end of the month due to violation of its terms and conditions, the company has warned. News24 saw an email sent by Starlink to many South African users last night stating that their services will be terminated on April 30.
“If you are operating your Starlink kit in an area other than areas designated as ‘available’ on the Starlink Availability Map, we would like to remind you that this is in violation of the Starlink terms and starting April 30, 2024, you will be unable to connect to the internet except to access your Starlink account where you can make updates to your account,” the email read.
Starlink has a fleet of thousands of low earth orbit satellites that have been able to provide high-speed, low latency internet almost anywhere on the globe. This has been viewed as a game changer in rural areas, which have historically been difficult to connect profitably. The company is owned by the SA-born Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Starlink has been unable to obtain a license to operate from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), with local ownership requirements from historically disadvantaged backgrounds seen as the main stumbling block.
Icasa has said that any applicant needs to be 30 percent owned by historically disadvantaged groups to be considered for an operating license. Thousands of people in South Africa, assisted by several service providers, took out roaming packages in countries where Starlink was licensed to operate and used the devices locally.
Icasa clarified that using Starlink in this way was illegal in a government gazette published in November last year.
Starlink also said that this was not the intended use of the product, explaining that service will be restricted if the device is used for two continuous months outside of the country where service was ordered. — News24.
Online Reporter