Starlink Expansion in South Africa Stalled, Elon Musk Claims Discrimination
The post has sparked global debate and widespread attention on social media, raising questions about the intersection of foreign investment, satellite technology, and national equity policies.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and owner of Starlink, has accused the South African government of denying his satellite internet company an operating license solely because he is not Black. The claim was made on Musk’s X account (@elonmusk), accompanied by a video in which he directly addressed the issue.
In his post, Musk wrote: “Starlink is not allowed to have an Internet provider license in South Africa for the sole reason that I am not Black. This is not ok.” In the video, he described the situation as “absurd,” noting that although he was born in South Africa, he is unable to operate Starlink locally. He repeatedly questioned whether local licensing rules amounted to racial discrimination, referencing laws that give preference to historically disadvantaged groups.
Musk specifically highlighted 40 laws that, according to him, provide strong preference to Black South Africans. He acknowledged that these rules were designed to promote economic equality but criticized their application in his case, framing it as discriminatory.
South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies require foreign telecom operators to include ownership by historically disadvantaged groups in order to qualify for licenses. Officials have clarified that Starlink has not formally applied for a license and that approvals are determined by regulatory compliance, not the race of company founders.
The post has sparked global debate and widespread attention on social media, raising questions about the intersection of foreign investment, satellite technology, and national equity policies. South African authorities have reiterated that Starlink would be welcome to operate in the country if it meets all regulatory requirements.
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides satellite internet services globally, targeting rural and underserved regions. Musk’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the company’s potential expansion into African markets.
