SpaceX’s Starlink Internet service has halted the sale of its roaming plans across all African nations, complicating and increasing costs for both prospective and certain existing customers in South Africa seeking access to the satellite internet service.
Members of South African Starlink user communities on Facebook first observed that the company had eliminated African countries from its roaming subscription options on Friday, 25 October 2024, raising concerns about access limitations.
“I’m not sure if this is a glitch on my side, but when I go onto the Starlink website and try to order the roam package, there aren’t any African countries listed in the dropdown,” one user expressed, highlighting the sudden change.
However, over a week later, users found that roaming subscriptions remained unavailable throughout Africa, further frustrating those relying on this service.
According to IcasaSePush, the change does not appear to adversely impact the thousands of existing roaming users within South Africa, yet it has effectively halted the company’s imports.
As of Friday, 1 November 2024, IcasaSePush reported a complete depletion of Starlink Gen 2 units and only two Starlink Gen 3 units still available, indicating a serious supply issue.
One possible motive behind the roaming crackdown in Africa is attributed to users in regions lacking official support saturating logistic capacities and stock in locations where demand for Starlink is exceptionally high.
Starlink has documented considerable demand across various African countries, where South African roaming users had previously procured their kits, underscoring the regional interest.
The service is currently denoted as “Sold Out” for new residential customers in significant urban areas, including Harare in Zimbabwe, Lusaka in Zambia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Lagos in Nigeria, demonstrating a clear strain on supply.
Customers in these regions have reported actual download speeds hovering in the low double-digit Mbps range, which is significantly below what Starlink has advertised, showcasing a discrepancy between expectation and reality.
According to Stellar Systems, an authorized Starlink retailer based in Zambia, the “misuse” of roaming plans by users in unofficially supported countries may lead to the permanent discontinuation of the roaming feature, signaling potential risks for current and future users.
“We can only hope this is not the case and will update you as soon as we get some feedback from Starlink regarding this,” the company communicated, reflecting the anxious anticipation among users dependent on the service.
YouTube channel Starlink Hardware also speculates that the company has suspended new roaming activations to deter users from utilizing its service in unauthorized locations.
“They’ve kind of gotten into trouble over it with some governments. They have tried to increase some prices and done some other things to prevent the workaround. This could just be their final step,” he commented, suggesting a broader strategy at play.
Strictly speaking, it remains a violation of Starlink’s Terms of Service to utilize its roaming packages in regions lacking official sanction, including South Africa, complicating the situation for users in those areas.
However, at the time of publication, current Starlink roaming users in the country were still able to access the service, leaving the fate of these connections uncertain.
The company has yet to provide any official commentary regarding the apparent roaming shutdown across Africa, amplifying user concerns.
Latest step in a long crackdown
Starlink has already made the process of using its roaming service significantly more expensive and complicated for South African subscribers, a service that was originally launched in early 2023.
Shortly after the launch, the company began limiting the number of consecutive days that users could rely on the service without logging in from the country of registration, thereby imposing additional hurdles.
Customers holding Starlink roaming subscriptions are now obliged to use the service from their registered country at least once every two months; otherwise, their access will face suspension, adding another layer of complexity.
For those who have registered their kits in the closest neighboring nation, this restriction would pose minimal challenges.
Starlink has successfully launched in four of South Africa’s six neighboring countries—Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe—offering more flexibility to nearby users.
Consequently, individuals buying a kit from these countries could effectively use their roaming plans and simply return to the country of registration to reactivate their service within the required 60-day timeframe.
Nevertheless, the discontinuation of new roaming plans within African countries now presents a significant challenge for South Africans with kits and subscriptions sourced from earlier supportive nations.
Countries such as Malawi or Zambia now complicate the situation for those customers who had not yet transferred their plans to the nearest supported neighbor prior to Starlink’s removal of roaming from African nations.
These customers will face the daunting prospect of traveling thousands of kilometers every two months if they wish to maintain their service active.
While there have been encouraging political developments regarding Starlink’s possible regulatory approval in South Africa, the service still indicates an “unknown” launch date on its official coverage map, leaving potential users in limbo.
**Interview with Mr. Thabo Nkosi, a Technology Analyst and Broadband Advocate**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Nkosi. We’re seeing significant changes with Starlink’s service in South Africa. Can you give us a brief overview of what’s happening with Starlink’s roaming plans in Africa, especially in South Africa?
**Mr. Nkosi:** Thank you for having me. Yes, Starlink has recently ceased the sale of its roaming plans across all African nations, including South Africa. This has raised concerns among users who depend on the service for internet access. While existing roaming users are still able to maintain their connections for now, new subscriptions have been effectively halted, causing access issues and driving up costs.
**Editor:** What seems to be the reason behind Starlink’s decision to eliminate these roaming subscription options?
**Mr. Nkosi:** One of the main reasons appears to be the misuse of these roaming plans. Users in regions without official support have been taking advantage of the system, which has strained logistics and stock in areas where the demand is particularly high. This has resulted in a supply issue, particularly highlighted by the depletion of available Starlink units across the continent.
**Editor:** That’s quite a shift. Can you elaborate on the impact this has on current and prospective users in South Africa?
**Mr. Nkosi:** Absolutely. Current users are facing uncertainty regarding their service continuity, as the company has not provided clear information about the future of existing roaming connections. On the other hand, prospective customers are left without options. The service availability in key urban centers like Pretoria and Johannesburg is now categorized as “Sold Out,” limiting access to those in my region who might need reliable internet for work or education.
**Editor:** How are users responding to these changes, particularly within community forums and user groups?
**Mr. Nkosi:** There’s a palpable sense of frustration and worry among users. Many are sharing experiences in community groups, discussing different methods to navigate this new reality. The abrupt nature of the decision caught a lot of people off guard, and there’s a growing appeal for transparency from Starlink.
**Editor:** Some speculate that this move might be a response to governmental pressures. What do you think?
**Mr. Nkosi:** That’s certainly a possibility. Governments require regulatory measures to be adhered to, and if Starlink is perceived to be circumventing these regulations, the backlash could lead to stricter enforcement and operational challenges. It’s a tricky situation for the company, balancing business interests with legal frameworks across different countries.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what do you think will be the long-term impact of these changes on Starlink’s presence in Africa?
**Mr. Nkosi:** If Starlink stays on this path, we could see a significant contraction in their user base and demand, especially if they don’t address the concerns of existing users effectively. Moreover, without strategizing to expand in compliance with local laws, their growth ambitions in Africa may be stymied. This situation highlights the need for better alignment between tech companies and local regulations to ensure sustainable operations.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Nkosi. It’s clear that these changes will have lasting effects on internet access in South Africa and beyond. We appreciate your time today.
**Mr. Nkosi:** Thank you for having me. I hope for a resolution that benefits users and aligns with regulatory frameworks.
