Safaricom of Kenya calls for more regulations for satellite service providers such as Starlink

The largest telecom provider in Kenya, Safaricom (SCOM.NR), has asked regulators to think about mandating that satellite internet service providers, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, collaborate with regional mobile network carriers.

While operating in numerous African nations, SpaceX’s Starlink business has encountered difficulties registering in other countries due to regulatory issues. It debuted in July of last year in Kenya.

Since then, the business has introduced more affordable price options and plans that enable Kenyans to rent the necessary hardware instead of having to pay more than $350 for it.

The director-general of the Communications Authority of Kenya received a letter from Safaricom, which is owned by the Kenyan government, Britain’s Vodafone (VOD.L), opens new tab, and South Africa’s Vodacom (VODJ.J), opens new tab, last month expressing concerns regarding the issuance of independent licenses to satellite internet providers.

After excerpts from the letter started to circulate on social media, Safaricom shared the letter with Reuters.

“Satellite coverage inherently spans multiple territorial borders and in doing so has the potential to illegally provide services and cause harmful interference within the territorial borders of the Republic of Kenya,” the letter stated.

It demanded that satellite service providers act as “infrastructure providers” to mobile network operators like as Safaricom, and that the Communications Authority take this into consideration. This, it stated, would guarantee that suppliers invest in Kenya, hire locals, and abide by local laws.

Requests for comment from Starlink and David Mugonyi, the director-general of the CA, were not immediately answered.

Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, Madagascar, Benin, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Sierra Leone are among the countries where Starlink conducts business. Because Starlink was an unlicensed service, Cameroon ordered the confiscation of Starlink equipment at ports earlier this year.