Three months after obtaining an operating license, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is now available in Botswana. The service, which costs P4,820 ($363) for hardware, P314 ($24) for shipping, and P688 ($52) for a monthly subscription, marks a significant entry into the country’s internet service market.
Starlink’s launch in Botswana follows a year of negotiations with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). The company initially submitted its license application in early 2023 but only received approval in May 2024. Earlier in February, BOCRA had rejected Starlink’s application due to alleged missing information, a claim the regulator later denied.
In the same month, BOCRA imposed a ban on the use, sale, and importation of Starlink kits within Botswana. However, the tide turned in May 2024 when President Mokgweetsi Masisi met with Starlink executives in Dallas, Texas. Following this meeting, President Masisi advised BOCRA to license the service, leading to its eventual approval.
Starlink enters a competitive internet service provider market in Botswana, currently dominated by mobile network operators such as BTC, Mascom, and Orange, as well as broadband providers like Nashua and OPQ. Despite the established competition, Starlink aims to carve out a niche with its satellite-based service.
Botswana becomes the sixth country in Southern Africa to welcome Starlink, joining Zambia, eSwatini, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar in accessing the high-speed satellite internet service.