Botswana Prohibits Starlink After Rejecting Application Two Weeks Prior

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The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has made it clear that the importation, use, and sale of Starlink kits or services are illegal in Botswana. Starlink, the Internet satellite launched by SpaceX, has not been licensed to operate in the country, and any entity found violating this regulation will face legal consequences.

BOCRA’s decision to reject Starlink’s application to operate in Botswana was made because SpaceX failed to meet all the requirements set by the telecommunications regulator. As a result, Starlink has not been authorized to import or sell its Internet kits in Botswana.

Reports indicate that some individuals who purchased Starlink kits for personal use are facing challenges at the Kazungula border in Zambia, where they are prohibited from bringing the devices into Botswana. These individuals have been given two options: return the devices to Zambia or seek permission from Botswana’s telco regulator, although no successful requests have been reported thus far.

However, users in countries where Starlink is not licensed have found a loophole by purchasing the devices in countries where it is already licensed, such as Zambia or Mozambique, and using the “roaming” option to access the service. Starlink’s terms of use prohibit importing and reselling in nations where the service has not launched, but how the company plans to enforce this rule is unclear.

In South Africa, where Starlink is also prohibited, the company disconnected hundreds of customers for violating its terms of use. The fate of users in other African countries that have banned Starlink services, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, remains uncertain.