Boating enthusiasts in search of Starlink must be wishing for a way to sail to land-locked Lesotho, which has joined the ranks of African countries to license the SpaceX satellite service.
The country’s communications authority has granted Starlink a ten-year licence, according to a report in Business Day newspaper. This despite the fact that Starlink Lesotho is reportedly 100% foreign-owned.
Starlink’s resistance to South Africa’s 30% local ownership licence condition has prevented the service operating locally despite huge appetite for the service among SA boating stakeholders. The National Sea Rescue Institute, in particular, has expressed interest in Starlink’s wide network coverage which would assist with search and rescue operations. “Starlink’s satellite internet service will revolutionise our ability to respond to emergencies, especially in remote and underserved areas,” former NSRI ceo Dr Cleeve Robertson said last year. “The real-time communication capabilities will enhance our rescue operations and, by extension, the safety of all South Africans engaging in water-based activities. Reliable, high-speed internet access can be a game-changer for our volunteers and the lives they work tirelessly to save,” Robertson said.
Recent reports suggest SA government authorities may yet accommodate Starlink by offering the option of an ‘equity equivalent programme’ rather than enforcing the mandatory 30% local ownership rule.