Ramaphosa, Jonas and MTN'S Starlink deal

But digital service giant says Elon Musk's satellite service must comply with BEE

- BONGANI HANS

GIANT digital communication network service provider, MTN, whose chairperson is South Africa’s special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, has expressed support for Starlink being licensed to operate in the country.

However, this was only if one of the world’s richest men Elon Musk’s satellite internet service licence complied with black economic empowerment regulations.

The company, which is originally from South Africa but operates in various countries across the continent, described US-based Starlink as one of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication providers that could significantly accelerate connectivity, “particularly in rural and underserved areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or costly to deploy”.

“By providing high-speed, low-latency internet, leveraging LEO capabilities could bridge the digital divide, supporting South Africa’s national goals of broader digital inclusion, economic development and innovation,” said MTN Group chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Nompilo Morafo.

MTN advocates for partnerships with LEO communication providers, including Starlink, as these can enhance service resilience, extend reach and improve customer experience, especially in challenging geographical areas.

“MTN welcomes co-operation and competition in the telecommunications space, provided there is regulatory parity,” said Morafo.

It has been reported that Starlink currently operates in 18 of the 54 countries in Africa, and it would expand to 10 more before the end of the year.

MTN's digital infrastructure chief executive officer, Mazen Mroué, had, on December 14, 2023, while he was still the group’s chief technology and information officer, revealed that there were engagements with SpaceX’s Starlink, with enterprise-grade trials under way in Rwanda and Nigeria.