Starlink launches in Botswana after year-long regulatory struggles, marking the end of a tumultuous journey that involved multiple regulatory roadblocks and drawn-out negotiations.
This comes three months after the company secured its operating licence from the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), following a year of back-and-forth with the regulator.
The Southern African nation residents can now purchase Starlink hardware for P4,820 ($363), with shipping costs set at P314 ($24) and a monthly subscription fee of P688 ($52).
This launch positions the SpaceX-operated broadband service as a disruptor in Botswana’s Internet service provider (ISP) market, which has long been dominated by major mobile network operators like BTC, Mascom, and Orange, alongside broadband providers such as Nashua and OPQ.
The path to Starlink’s launch in Botswana was anything but smooth. The company initially submitted its application for a licence to BOCRA in early 2023.
However, the regulator rejected the application in February 2024, citing missing information. Despite Starlink insiders alleging that the application was complete, BOCRA maintained that the rejection was due to insufficient details.
The situation escalated further when the telecom regulator banned the use, sale, and importation of Starlink kits in the country two weeks after rejecting the application, creating uncertainty around the service’s future in Botswana.
In April 2024, Starlink notified its roaming customers that they could only access the satellite Internet service in areas where the company is authorised to do business, with a warning to effectively disconnect all individuals and businesses using the service in unauthorised locations across Africa, including Botswana.
In May 2024, President Mokgweetsi Masisi met with Starlink executives in Dallas, Texas. Following this intervention, President Masisi recommended that BOCRA reconsider its stance, leading to the approval of Starlink’s license in the same month — nearly four months after its application was rejected.
Botswana becomes the sixth Southern African country
Botswana becomes the sixth Southern African country to host the satellite Internet service, following in the footsteps of Zambia, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
Starlink’s entry into Botswana is particularly significant, given that traditional ISPs have struggled to provide reliable connectivity.
The satellite-based service is expected to bridge this gap by offering high-speed Internet, especially in remote and underserved areas.
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As Starlink begins its operations in Botswana, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the service impacts the country’s ISP market, specifically pricing, competition, and Internet penetration.
Depending on the success of the satellite Internet service, it could set a precedent for other countries in the region, such as Zimbabwe and South Africa.
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