South Africa's Communications Minister addresses Starlink's empowerment pathway and regulatory challenges

South Africa's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, stated that it is legally impossible for his ministry to offer an Equity Equivalent Investment Programme EEIP to multinational companies like Starlink. Eligibility for EEIPs is determined by national legislation and regulations, and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ICASA is the sole authority for granting individual licenses. EEIPs are a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment B-BBEE initiative for multinationals that cannot meet the standard 25% black ownership requirement, allowing them to earn empowerment points through investments in training, skills development, and local enterprise instead of selling equity. However, ICASA's current regulations for telecommunications licensing only recognize ownership by historically disadvantaged groups as a valid measurement for individual licenses, creating a misalignment with the B-BBEE Act and ICT Sector Code which acknowledge EEIPs. This regulatory discrepancy prompted Malatsi to issue a Policy Direction in May 2025, urging ICASA to consider revising its ownership regulations to align with the B-BBEE Act and ICT Sector Code. Malatsi clarified that this directive is not about any specific company, including Starlink, but aims to harmonize the regulatory environment, increase investment and competition in the ICT sector, and provide South African consumers with more choice and better access to connectivity. ICASA chairperson Mot