Minister's directive raises concerns

MINISTER of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has been accused of overreaching and acting procedurally irresponsibly following his December 12 directive, which has been widely seen as an attempt to clear the path for Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate in the country.

- THEOLIN TEMBO. [e-mail]

In the Government Gazette, he proposed easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) licensing requirements for satellite service companies such as Starlink. This would allow for bypassing the strict 30% Historically Disadvantaged Groups (HDG) ownership requirements and replacing them with a less stringent “equity equivalent” model.

After his directive, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) said it noted the publication of the policy direction. Since then, Malatsi has faced intense scrutiny since the directive.

GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron said the minister’s directive is a dense, bizarre, and convoluted interpretation of legislation. He said its language is argumentative instead of being neutral, and in the end, it directs only that Icasa “consider alignment” of regulations and then achieve and ensure promotion of broadband access, parity in licensing and preservation of South African digital sovereignty.