Spacex’s Starlink faces price barrier

THE PRICEY monthly subscription for the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (Spacex’s) Starlink is expected to be the biggest barrier for business and internet users operating in South Africa’s rural and remote areas, who cannot get broadband or fibre.

Spacex’s Starlink headed by billionaire Elon Musk this week opened up pre-orders globally to budding customers, giving them the ability to enter their details and put down a $99 deposit (R1 463).

“Starlink is now delivering initial beta service both domestically and internationally, and will continue expansion to near global coverage of the populated world in 2021,” said Starlink on its website.

The pricing director at Africa Analysis, Ofentse Dazela, believed that there was a feeble business case for Spacex’s new broadband service in South Africa given that the country had achieved well over 95 percent 4G population coverage, while 3G sites of the large telcos covered around 99 percent of the South African population.

World Wide Worx managing director Arthur Goldstuck said Starlink would have little initial impact on internet access for the poor, as the cost was prohibitive.

However, he said it would fill the gaps for users and businesses in rural and remote areas where fixed line or mobile broadband services were not available.