SpaceX in a submission has told the Icasa that it ought to rethink the rules requiring 30 per cent shareholding by “historically disadvantaged” groups. The satellite company controlled by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk related that all processes have been made to launch in the country aside from the registration framework emanating from the required network and services licenses delaying its launch. “Under the current South African regulatory system, companies providing services directly to end users must hold I-ECNS (network) and I-ECS (service) licenses, which require at least 30 per cent shareholding by historically disadvantaged groups,” SpaceX wrote in its submission to Icasa. Elon Musk Stressing its position in its submission, Starlink said most foreign satellite operators, particularly those with direct-to-consumer business models, have global policies that prevent local shareholding, thus excluding them from the South African market. “By aligning the licensing and ownership regulations with the ICT sector code – which recognizes equity equivalent programs as an alternative to local shareholding – Icasa could remove a significant barrier to foreign satellite operators. This would not only increase foreign investment in South Africa but would also create broader industry benefits, supporting innovation, competition, and long-term growth,” Starlink proposed. For reasons such as short notice and the difficulty of Zoom’s timezone, SpaceX failed to appear at the Icasa session last week while several other satellite operators appeared, including Globalstar Inc. and Sateliot. What the South African government is saying on BEE policy The South African government has noted that other large telecommunications companies have complied with the BEE policy. This includes MTN and Vodacom who are among the biggest mobile network operators in Africa. While SpaceX failed to attend the Icasa session in person, the satellite company decided to rely on its written submission, according to close sources. ICASA – Independent Communications Authority of South Africa According to Icasa, the company’s written submission still stood and a committee would consider all submissions where the findings document would be compiled and released on April 1, 2025. South African Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi said that it is working on a regulatory and licensing framework for satellite internet providers to play as operators. Technext Newsletter