Grace Ashiru
Three months after obtaining its operating license, Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, is now available in Botswana. The hardware is priced at P4,820 ($363), with shipping costing P314 ($24), and a monthly subscription fee of P688 ($52).
Starlink’s launch in Botswana follows a year of discussions with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). The company initially submitted its license application in early 2023 but only received approval in May 2024. In February 2024, Starlink’s application faced rejection due to alleged missing information, according to sources familiar with the situation. However, the regulator denied these claims.
In the same month, BOCRA issued a ban on the use, sale, and importation of Starlink kits within the country. By May, a meeting took place in Dallas, Texas, between President Masisi and a group of Starlink executives. During this meeting, President Masisi stated that he had advised BOCRA to approve the service.
In Botswana, Starlink has entered an internet service provider market that is primarily dominated by mobile network operators such as BTC, Mascom, and Orange, as well as other broadband internet providers like Nashua and OPQ. This makes Botswana the sixth country in southern Africa to welcome Starlink, following Zambia, eSwatini, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
