South Africa’s broadband future is being decided in orbit, not in Pretoria

South Africa's communications regulator Icasa has advised prospective satellite operators like Starlink to acquire existing network licences rather than apply for new ones, as the regulatory framework cannot issue new I-ECNS licences until a ministerial policy direction and formal invitation process are completed. A former Vodacom executive argues this regulatory gridlock mirrors how Telkom failed to adapt to mobile disruption — and warns that South African mobile operators now face the same existential risk from LEO satellite networks. With 3GPP standards integrating satellites into 5G/6G, SpaceX amassing $17B in spectrum, and neighbouring African countries already licensing Starlink, the author contends the structural shift to non-terrestrial networks is inevitable. The real question is how long South Africa will delay its own market entry while a grey market persists and competitors move ahead.

Nguồn: https://techcentral.co.za/south-africas-broadband-future-is-being-decided-in-orbit-not-in-pretoria/283150. 8sync News chỉ tóm tắt và dẫn link; bản quyền nội dung thuộc tác giả và nguồn gốc.