Starlink starts blocking roaming in Zimbabwe

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

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Starlink starts blocking roaming in Zimbabwe

SpaceX's broadband satellite Internet service Starlink has warned users in Zimbabwe that it will disable their roaming services upon request from the country's communications regulator.

Like South Africa, Zimbabwe does not yet officially support Starlink, but many people in the country are using its regional or global roaming service on kits bought in countries like Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, and Kenya.
 
Just politics to appease the Zim government.

Starlink is a business, and they care about profits.
 
Type approval has always been about ensuring the deepest pockets ping the right bank accounts.

Was the same pre '94.
 
Oh, just some African countries being historical Africa.
Keep your people impoverished, starving, and ignorant, while you and your cronies loot the natural resources and stifle any form of creativity and innovation.
 
Clean Green said:
What happened to "They can shake their fists to the sky?"
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Was never a serious thing. At the end of the day international law states that countries have the right to control radio frequencies in their skies. With the exception of Iran, which is currently in the courts, starlink has always shut off access upon request.
 
Budza said:
What does this mean?

The regulator has to identify and request a specific terminalID or userID be blocked?

:unsure:


Sounds like this is still the case...
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Starlink can see exactly where its kits are being used, but this does not matter.

It's not a request to block specific kits. It's a request to block all roaming coverage in Zim. The kit will still work in other countries.
 
i suppose all the media coverage about people bypassing the local authorities probably didn't help
 
But also literally having news like this will be in the of reasons ICASA is like hey we can get it blocked

Set one up for a client today at their farm will say it works well!
 
““Furthermore, equipment which is not type-approved could potentially explode or implode thus putting consumers in harm’s way.”

Explode! This mama is confusing SpaceX rockets with terminals? Or am I over thinking it and shes just low I Q
 
Hanno Labuschagne said:
Starlink can see exactly where its kits are being used, but this does not matter.

It's not a request to block specific kits. It's a request to block all roaming coverage in Zim. The kit will still work in other countries.
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Hmmm so this basically means if ICASA asks Starlink to block roaming in SA they will do it and those roaming in SA will be out of luck, ouch.

In November 2023, it also gazetted a notice stating that Starlink’s use in South Africa is illegal because the company had not yet secured the necessary telecoms or radio frequency spectrum licences to offer its services locally.
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I would guess this might happen sooner than people think.
 
Hanno Labuschagne said:
Starlink can see exactly where its kits are being used, but this does not matter.

It's not a request to block specific kits. It's a request to block all roaming coverage in Zim. The kit will still work in other countries.
Click to expand...
That's even worse. How will they ensure that coverage is blocked within the exact border of Zim, without encroaching into the neighbouring country?
 
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