Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite broadband service, is encountering significant regulatory hurdles in Africa. The service has been blocked in seven countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, South Africa, and Senegal.
However, some bans were reversed after Starlink engaged with top government officials. In April, Starlink disconnected its service in Cameroon following a government directive, citing the lack of a license and national security concerns.
Regulators are wary of Starlink’s lack of physical infrastructure in their countries, which complicates content control and accountability. This issue has been a longstanding concern for African governments since the rise of the internet and social media. Industry analysts note that governments are keen on controlling the content shared via Starlink’s satellites, as they cannot shut down the service physically or hold it responsible for transmitted content.
Why not embrace innovation? The pushback and the ongoing regulatory struggle between innovation and governmental control in the digital age really doesn’t help with tech innovation in developing countries. Starlink’s unique operational model is seen as a challenge to traditional regulatory frameworks, prompting debates about the future of internet governance on the continent.