Starting April 30, Starlink, the satellite internet provider by SpaceX, will limit roaming in countries like Cameroon and South Africa where it lacks proper licensing.
Roaming allows users to access the internet service in areas outside of Starlink’s authorised regions. This means users won’t be able to use their Starlink kits in these areas, as the company tightens its grip on unauthorised locations.
The move comes in response to concerns raised by a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report. The investigation revealed that Starlink devices were being used by Russian fighters in Ukraine and paramilitary forces in Sudan. It suggested a shady supply chain operating in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the UAE, which could potentially arm adversaries and accused war criminals with Starlink technology.
Rebecca Enonchong, a tech entrepreneur from Cameroon, believes this move is Starlink’s reaction to the WSJ report. However, neither SpaceX nor its CEO Elon Musk has publicly addressed the allegations.
In addition to the WSJ report, some African nations are taking action against Starlink. Zimbabwe suspended the service recently, deeming it illegal, while users and vendors faced threats of arrest. A Chinese mining company using Starlink was also fined and had its equipment seized earlier this year.
Despite the controversies, in places like Cameroon, where internet service is unreliable, Starlink has been a game-changer, offering people their first taste of quality internet connectivity.
However, its expansion into other African nations, including South Africa, South Sudan, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt, remains uncertain, with availability expected only by 2025 in Cameroon, according to the current map.
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