Broadband6.10.2024

Major search and rescue service wants Starlink in South Africa

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has said that Starlink’s arrival in South Africa will significantly impact its rescue operations.

The NSRI is a voluntary, non-profit rescue service whose mandate is to save lives by preventing drowning. It operates 49 bases around the country, servicing coastal regions and in-land dams.

NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson believes that the SpaceX-operated low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service will increase the NSRI’s ability to respond to emergencies.

“The real-time communication capabilities will enhance our rescue operations and, by extension, the safety of all South Africans engaging in water-based activities,” said Robertson.

“Reliable, high-speed internet access can be a game-changer for our volunteers and the lives they work tirelessly to save.

It will ensure robust, fail-safe communication during mass rescue operations, search and rescue operations, and natural disasters.

Starlink will also assist in expanding rescue missions in remote and underserved areas.

Starlink’s network coverage reaches even the most remote parts of South Africa, unlike conventional broadband infrastructure such as mobile networks and fibre.

This will allow the NSRI to continue its rescue operations in all communities without relying on this conventional infrastructure for the accurate and real-time data it requires.

“By enabling the NSRI to fulfil its mandate better, Starlink contributes directly to the country’s digital transformation, disaster management capabilities, long-term socio-economic development, and undoubtedly to saving lives,” said Robertson.

The NSRI also noted the broader impact of a local Starlink launch on South African communities and the country’s economy.

“Starlink’s technology will support our critical rescue operations and empower communities with access to educational, health, and economic resources that can uplift their quality of life,” said NSRI Operations Director Brett Ayres.

“SpaceX’s LEO services will have a significant multiplier effect across South Africa’s economy, not only in the rescue sector in the context we describe but also in supporting growth in all other sectors and industries.”

Plan for Starlink launch in South Africa

Communications minister Solly Malatsi recently announced a plan that would open a door for Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its satellite broadband service, Starlink, in South Africa.

Malatsi has said he intends to issue a policy direction to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) regarding equity equivalent programmes, for urgent consideration.

“This is part of an initiative to significantly expand access to broadband connectivity to poor South Africans and people living in remote parts of the country,” Malatsi stated.

Although the minister did not name Starlink specifically, it is an open industry secret that South Africa’s ownership equity laws have discouraged SpaceX from launching its broadband service locally.

South Africa was previously one of the first countries on Starlink’s list of planned rollouts, with local pre-orders launching in February 2021.

The SpaceX-operated low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband service initially targeted a 2022 launch for South Africa.

However, in March 2021, Icasa issued new regulations that changed ownership equity laws for telecommunications companies in South Africa.

These new regulations stipulated that it was no longer sufficient for national network operators and service providers to be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs)

HDGs include black people and South African citizens who are youth, women, and people with disabilities.

Under Icasa’s new regulations, telecommunications providers with a national footprint must be 30% black-owned.

However, due to the industry backlash during the public consultation period for these regulations, Icasa suspended this provision until an unspecified future date.

Therefore, the old ownership equity requirements have remained in effect for the past three and a half years.

This has created significant regulatory uncertainty, as Icasa could implement the new ownership requirements at any moment — or launch a new process to do away with them entirely.

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