SpaceX has initiated the deactivation of Starlink satellite internet terminals for users in South Africa. The company is targeting devices originally purchased in neighboring countries, such as Mozambique and Zambia, which were being used within South African borders via international roaming services.
To restore connectivity, users must prove they are tourists by submitting a passport. This option is unavailable to South African passport holders. The company is enforcing stricter geographical tracking to limit the use of terminals outside the country where the subscription was initially registered.
Analysts estimate that these measures could impact more than 14,000 devices. The move follows SpaceX's ongoing two-year struggle to secure an official operating license in South Africa, which has been stalled by local regulatory requirements.
South African law mandates that telecommunications companies transfer 30 percent of their local equity to historically disadvantaged groups. Elon Musk has publicly opposed these conditions, leading to a stalemate in negotiations between SpaceX and the government.
