Lesotho became the latest African nation to approve satellite internet as a national solution yesterday when it awarded Elon Musk’s Starlink a 10-year licence.
Lesotho has had inconsistent internet connection for many years, particularly in rural areas where, according to data from Open Internet For Democracy, more than 80% of the population is still offline. The standard broadband infrastructure hasn’t kept up, and the steep environment doesn’t help either. However, that may soon change.
In Lesotho, Starlink didn’t debut right away. The nation’s communication regulations, which were initially designed for traditional providers rather than satellite operators, needed to be updated. Through public consultations, regulators developed new license categories rather than implementing local ownership laws, such as South Africa’s 30% minimum. After submitting an application in 2024, Starlink Lesotho (Pty) Ltd was ultimately accepted. This clearance follows President Trump’s Liberation Day tariff launch, which imposed a 50% U.S. duty on Lesotho.
Bringing in an American IT company like Starlink might be part of the nation’s plan to make things better, even though that tax was later halted and reduced to 10%.
However, not everyone is ecstatic. Local telecoms resisted, stating that Starlink should have some kind of local ownership before receiving a licence, particularly powerful companies like Vodacom Lesotho. Civil society groups concurred, saying that permitting a totally foreign corporation into the market without partnerships could create a harmful precedent. These issues reflect a larger discussion in Africa about how to accept foreign technology without marginalising indigenous actors.
BrandSpur telecom and IT news desk report that in South Africa, where Starlink has not yet launched, the argument is more heated than anywhere else. Despite high demand, Starlink has been excluded from one of Africa’s most developed internet marketplaces due to local ownership restrictions that require 30% Black South African participation, essentially stalling any license conversations.
Regardless of the debate, Starlink has been sweeping across Africa with Lesotho being the company’s fourth new market this year and its twentieth presence on the continent. The service, which is currently the second-largest ISP in Nigeria and the seventh-largest in Kenya, is rapidly gaining traction, particularly in underserved and distant areas where traditional ISPs have failed. It’s difficult to ignore the momentum. Due to early weather delays, rivals such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper are still having difficulty launching satellites, giving Starlink a distinct first-mover advantage.
Smaller countries keen to jump ahead into the digital future would be more than happy to extend a warm welcome if Lesotho is any guide.
