For a long time, many South Africans have been eagerly waiting for Starlink — Elon Musk’s satellite internet company — to of...
For a long time, many South Africans have been eagerly waiting for Starlink — Elon Musk’s satellite internet company — to officially launch here. But talks between Starlink and the South African government seemed stuck, and many wondered why.
The reason? A government policy called Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), which is designed to help more South Africans benefit from large businesses operating in the country.
What Was Holding Things Back?
Negotiations were caught on one big issue:
Government: “To operate here, you need to follow our rules about sharing ownership or investing in local communities.”
Starlink: “We want to work here, but we don’t want to give away any part of our company.”
At first, the government appeared to only offer one option: Starlink had to sell a large part of their South African operations to local partners. Elon Musk wasn’t happy about that.
The Missing Piece: Another Way to Comply
Later, the government revealed there’s another option in the B-BBEE policy. Besides sharing ownership, companies can also meet the rules by investing millions in community development programs — this is called Equity Equivalents.
Once Starlink learned about this option, things changed quickly.
Starlink’s Big New Proposal
In August 2025, Starlink published an open letter titled “Bring Starlink to South Africa.” In it, they announced a new plan:
- A R500 million investment to connect 5,000 schools with free, high-speed internet.
- About 2.4 million schoolchildren across South Africa would benefit from improved access to online learning.
Starlink’s idea is to use this investment to meet the government’s rules without selling part of their business. If the DCDT approves this plan, Starlink could finally begin expanding its internet service throughout the country — including rural areas, farms, and townships that need it most.
What Happens Next?
Starlink is asking South Africans to speak up and share their support before the government’s public consultation ends on July 2, 2025. If the proposal gets the green light, it could mean:
- Millions of students get free internet access for education.
- Communities that have been left behind get reliable, fast internet.
- Starlink becomes a major player in connecting South Africa to the digital world.
Why This Matters
This story shows how important it is for government policies to balance fairness with progress. South Africa’s B-BBEE rules aim to help people catch up after years of unfairness, but they also need to let new technology come in.
Starlink’s Equity Equivalent investment might be the solution that works for everyone — meeting the government’s empowerment goals while bringing much-needed internet to millions.
Have thoughts on Starlink’s plan? Share your voice before the consultation closes on July 2, 2025. Your input could help shape South Africa’s digital future.
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