South Africa's ICASA Issues Satellite Licensing Framework as Starlink Entry Remains on Hold

South Africa's telecom regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), spelled out its satellite licensing rules on June 30, 2026, clarifying the regulatory pathway for satellite broadband operators while Starlink's entry into the country remains on hold. Starlink has not yet secured a license in South Africa, largely due to the country's Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) ownership requirements, which require 30% local equity ownership that SpaceX has resisted. The clarified framework comes as rival providers — including Amazon Leo (via its Herotel partnership) and the newly launched state-backed BrainSAT — move to fill the connectivity gap for South Africa's roughly 13 million still-offline citizens.