Times Of Swaziland: ELON MUSK’S STARLINK ESWATINI BID WON’T BE EASY ELON MUSK’S STARLINK ESWATINI BID WON’T BE EASY ================================================================================ Timothy Simelane on 03/04/2023 08:30:00 MBABANE – Starlink, a company owned by the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, may face an uphill struggle in its quest to penetrate the Eswatini digital communication space. This is because some industry players have said they would defend the Eswatini economy as the question on whether to allow Starlink to operate in Eswatini arises. Starlink is an internet service provider specialising in high speed, low latency broadband internet across the globe. In its marketing strategy, Starlink says its users can engage in activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet. It also says it is ideal for communities in remote areas, especially in rural communities. Today is the deadline on which people and companies objecting to the granting of a general licence for electronic communication service to Starlink Eswatini (PTY) LTD can lodge their comments to the regulator, Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM). Comments ESCCOM is then expected to take into consideration such comments together with other essential compliances before deciding to open up the industry to Starlink. Already, Starlink has been allowed in Mozambique and Nigeria, and hopes to set up plant in Tanzania as well as other African countries. Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) Managing Director Themba Khumalo, when asked if the corporation had submitted comments to ESCCOM, following the invitation through a public notice, said such had been done. “Yes, it would be an unfortunate development as licensed operators would be disadvantaged. We not only provide service, but also contribute in creating local value and development of key skills necessary to sustain the local economy,” Khumalo said. EPTC is one of the companies that may face pound for pound competition with Starlink as it also owns communication infrastructure and has a wide market in the internet provision space. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology Phesheya Dube said: “While we should not be blind to the fact that communication and technology evolves, we should not destroy what we have already built up as a nation.” He referred further questions to ESCCOM. “You will know that the process is currently being managed by the regulator, so we cannot say much for now.” ESCCOM’s Consumer Affairs and Communications Manager said the regulator could not comment on the issue as it had issued a notice inviting members of the public to make submissions. “We can only communicate after we have evaluated the submissions by the public,” she said. Inviting In the public notice inviting comments, ESCCOM said: “The commission received an application for the grant of of a general electronic communication services licence from Starlink Eswatini (PTY)Ltd in terms of Regulation No.4(2) of the Electronic Communications Licensing Regulations 2016.” It said Starlink provided launch services for the private and public sector. “Since 2018, they have been designing and launching a large constellation of satellites to provide a high speed, low latency broadband internet access service that will be available everywhere on earth. Today their service is available in over 45 markets around the world and they have more than 600 000 subscribers,” ESCCOM said in the notice. According to Africa Week, Starlink estimates that service will begin in the rest of Africa (beyond Nigeria and Mozambique) in 2023, but this depends on the company receiving the necessary approvals. Gaining licences will not necessarily be straightforward, given the questionable enthusiasm of some regulators for greater competition in their markets. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano on January 15 – the largest the world has seen for more than 30 years – ruptured key sections of an undersea telecommunications cable lying on the floor of the South Pacific. The island nation of Tonga was cut off from the world as it grappled with a humanitarian crisis. In the almost complete absence of communications, aid agencies struggled to assess the country’s needs. Phone and internet connections were not restored for more than a month. Weeks after the eruption, an even greater catastrophe – this time manmade – began to unfold on the other side of the world. In both Tonga and Ukraine, Starlink, was given permission to operate in Ukraine immediately after the invasion. Funding Within weeks, through funding provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others, Starlink had delivered 5 000 terminals – which transmit and receive internet signals – to help maintain communication and assist in the war effort. Starlink also sent 50 terminals to Tonga after the eruption, restoring connectivity in some villages on outlying islands. Africa, of course, is not immune to the acute crises brought about by natural disasters or conflict. But it also suffers from a chronic deficit of telecommunications infrastructure. As of 2020, over 200 million people on the continent – about a fifth of the population – were not even covered by a 3G signal. Investing in fibre-optic cables or mobile phone towers to serve the so-called ‘last mile’ communities in remote areas was said to be not economically viable. As a result, the UN’s target, unveiled in April, of achieving universal internet access by 2030 will not be met in Africa without drastic action.