The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has asked Starlink to shut down all kits that were operating illegally in Zimbabwe on the basis that the service has not yet been licensed.
Gift Machengete, director general of PORTRAZ, asked Starlink to disable its services until they are regularized. Starlink on April 12 notified users in Zimbabwe that the regulator had instructed it to “disable the service.” Machengete said he spoke to Elon Musk on April 11 and asked SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, to first submit a formal request to provide services in Zimbabwe.
The trade in Starlink kits has grown in Zimbabwe, especially in the informal market. Earlier this year, Portraz cracked down on illegal use of Starlink, with police learning citizens found using the service.
In January, POTRAZ warned that individuals and companies found distributing and advertising equipment to access Starlink Internet services could be arrested. However, local news reports indicate that trading in Starlink kits appears to have continued across social media platforms.
Zimbabwe is one of several African countries, including Angola and neighboring South Africa, that have not yet licensed the service.
The news for Starlink is better in Madagascar, where the government appears to be more interested in making the most of a service that could solve at least some of the country's connectivity problems.
Starlink has obtained agreement from the Malagasy government to launch its commercial services in Madagascar. No details were released regarding the launch date of Starlink's commercial activities in Madagascar, although the company has disclosed plans to launch its high-speed connectivity services in Madagascar from the third quarter of 2024.
