Starlink cuts off South African users

Cape Town – Starlink has tightened its restrictions on South African users accessing its satellite internet service through international roaming, with some customers reporting disconnections after being asked to complete travel registration.

According to MyBroadband, users received notifications on Friday, 23 October 2026, stating: “You’re using your Starlink outside your account country. Complete travel registration to restore service.”

The new requirement could effectively prevent South Africans from using roaming subscriptions as a permanent internet solution because Starlink can establish whether customers are using the service outside their registered country.

The company’s terms state that travel registration is required for users accessing Starlink outside their home country, except for Enterprise accounts.

Regulatory uncertainty

Starlink’s roaming service had allowed South Africans to use equipment registered in countries where the service is officially available, despite the company not having launched locally. However, the company progressively tightened its restrictions, reducing the continuous-use allowance from 60 days to 30 days and, in some cases, as little as seven days, MyBroadband reported.

The latest development comes amid continued regulatory uncertainty surrounding Starlink’s entry into South Africa.

In a May 2025 statement, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) said it was investigating allegations that the satellite internet provider was operating without the necessary authorisation. The regulator warned that electronic communications providers must comply with the country’s legal and licensing requirements.

“Should the investigation yield any breach of regulatory and legislative frameworks,” ICASA chairperson Mothibi Ramusi said, the authority would consider enforcement measures, potentially including a complaint to the International Telecommunication Union.

Rural and poorly served areas

Tech publication TechCabal also reported in June 2025 that Starlink had suspended access for some South African users relying on roaming packages, highlighting the risks associated with using the service outside officially supported markets.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s licensing and ownership requirements remain central to the debate over Starlink’s local launch. A Reuters report published in December 2025 said the government planned to revise telecommunications ownership rules to allow foreign operators to meet empowerment objectives through equity-equivalent investments, potentially opening the door for Starlink and other international companies.

For South Africans relying on Starlink for connectivity in rural and poorly served areas, the latest restrictions could mean losing access to a service that has provided an alternative to conventional broadband. However, the reported disconnections do not amount to a nationwide shutdown: international travellers may still use roaming in accordance with Starlink’s terms, while the company’s official local availability remains a separate regulatory issue.

Picture: Unsplash

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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