South Africa Explores Satellite Internet Deal with Chinese LEO Provider
The goal of the potential partnership is to address South Africa's digital divide by providing affordable, reliable internet access to millions of people in remote and underserved areas.
A Long March 8A carrier rocket successfully launched the satellite Internet low-orbit group 06 satellites. The launch, which took place at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, was a complete success, with the satellites entering their predetermined orbit. This mission marks the 586th flight of the Long March rocket series and featured several technological innovations, including full-process automation, active drift control during takeoff, and supercooled liquid oxygen refueling.
This launch comes as South Africa’s Communications Minister, Solly Malatsi, is exploring a new partnership with China Satellite Network Company (CSNC) for satellite internet services. The minister’s recent visit to China included discussions with CSNC, a state-owned enterprise that is developing a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to compete with Starlink. The goal of the potential partnership is to help close South Africa’s digital divide by providing affordable and reliable internet access to millions in remote and underserved areas. In discussions with the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC), the minister explored satellite broadband solutions aimed at addressing last-mile connectivity challenges in these communities. This initiative supports the national priority of ensuring equitable access to essential digital services for all South Africans.
Starlink, while already operating in over 20 other African nations, has not yet launched in South Africa due to local telecom licensing rules that require foreign providers to partner with local stakeholders. The South African government appears open to alternative suppliers, including Chinese firms, to bypass these regulatory hurdles. Beyond the satellite talks, Minister Malatsi also met with Huawei and Honor to discuss making smart devices more accessible and attended the 2025 World AI Conference in Shanghai, signaling a broader vision for South Africa’s role in global technology and innovation.
