The South African government is preparing a new policy directive in the telecommunications sector.
With this planned change, Black ownership requirements in the sector will be eased, and companies that do not strictly meet this criterion—unlike in other industries—will have a smoother path to establishing a presence in the country.
This shift is expected to remove the main barrier that has long hindered Starlink from operating nationwide.
The legal amendment is believed to be specifically aimed at addressing this issue. According to the directive signed by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi, the government has requested the national telecom regulator to implement an “equity equivalent program.”
This will allow companies to enter the South African market without transferring ownership shares.
Thanks to this newly drafted policy, global players will be able to engage more broadly in a large market like South Africa and will potentially boost connectivity opportunities across the country.