Starlink’s South Africa launch gets closer
September 17, 2024
By Chris Forrester
South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has held talks with Elon Musk over Starlink’s availability in the country, and the discussions included potential investments.
Ramaphosa told local press that the discussions had taken place recently. Musk was born in South Africa and still has family in the country.
“I have had discussions with [Musk] and have said, Elon, you become so successful and you’re investing in a variety of countries, I want you to come home and invest here,” Ramaphosa told reporters in the capital Pretoria. “He and I are going to have a further discussion.”
South Africa is now the only country in Southern Africa where Starlink is not available. However, the nation requires foreign companies to use local ‘partners’ and for any business to have elements of black ownership to redress inequalities.
Other posts by :
- Ukraine wants its own LEO system
- SpaceX outlines Starlink cellular delivery plan
- NAB vs CTIA on C-band release
- Laser terminals to operate at 100x faster
- Starlink success in Spain, but South Africa proves difficult
- RocketLab doubts over Mynaric bid
- IRIS2 free for government usage?
- Bank: AST SpaceMobile will orbit 356 satellites by 2030