Image: Starlink
Elon Musk is once again drawing attention to South Africa’s regulatory roadblocks as Starlink remains unable to launch in the country, despite operating in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. The SpaceX CEO said the issue comes down to South Africa’s telecommunications ownership rules, arguing that Starlink has effectively been blocked because he is not Black, according to reporting from Business Insider Africa.
In a now-deleted post on X, Musk questioned why Starlink has yet to receive authorization in his birth country, even as demand for high-speed satellite internet remains strong — particularly in underserved rural areas. Starlink is already live in more than 20 African countries, making its absence in one of the continent’s most industrialized economies increasingly conspicuous.
Musk also offered a more pointed statement in a separate post, saying he opposes both anti-Black and anti-White laws, arguing there should be “a fair and even playing field.” He went further, claiming South Africa now has more anti-White laws than there were anti-Black laws under apartheid, a remark that quickly ignited polarized reactions online.
At the center of the dispute are South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) regulations, enforced by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). These rules require telecommunications license holders to have at least 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. Starlink has said it supports empowerment objectives but opposes mandatory equity transfers, instead proposing equity equivalent investment programs that allow companies to meet requirements through direct investment rather than ownership changes.
SpaceX has already pledged significant investments to support South Africa’s development goals, including tens of millions of dollars toward infrastructure and providing free high-speed internet and equipment to thousands of rural schools. The company has also pushed for regulatory amendments that would allow Starlink to launch while remaining fully compliant with national inclusion policies.
All of this comes as Starlink’s regulatory approval in South Africa hangs in the balance. Earlier this week, the company made an unusual public appeal, urging South Africans who registered interest in the service to directly lobby regulators. At the same time, Africa is slated to receive Starlink Direct to Cell coverage sometime this year, adding urgency to resolving the licensing impasse.
For now, Musk’s comments have reignited debate over how South Africa balances historical redress policies with foreign investment, innovation, and access to critical connectivity.
