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StarSat has officially exited the South African market. According to MyBroadband, Jan Hendrik Harmse, the marketing manager, confirmed that OnDigital Media, the company that held the broadcaster’s license, has been liquidated.
This development follows the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s(Icasa) raid on StarSat’s offices in October 2024, which led to the suspension of its broadcast signals. Since then, customers have received little information, aside from a vague apology issued at the time.
StarSat initially assured customers that services would be restored and even promised “bonuses” for those who had already paid. However, months later, refunds remain unpaid, and many report that their emails and calls to customer service have gone unanswered. Frustrated customers have taken to Facebook to demand their money back, but the company has remained silent.
The controversy began when StarSat failed to renew its broadcasting license on time. The license had expired in July 2023, but the company missed the deadline to submit renewal documents. Despite this, it continued operations until Icasa intervened, ordering a shutdown by September 18, 2024. StarSat defied the order, prompting a raid on October 2 that ultimately halted its broadcasts in South Africa and beyond.
Harmse acknowledged the delay in submitting the renewal application but attributed it to the Covid-19 pandemic and unresolved shareholder agreements. He claimed that StarSat had been in discussions with Icasa regarding the issue, but this did not prevent the regulator from taking action.
As recently as January 2025, StarSat was still expressing intentions of making a comeback, claiming efforts were underway to resume broadcasting. However, with OnDigital Media now liquidated, any chances of revival have effectively been eliminated.
For customers still awaiting refunds, the outlook is bleak. Given the company’s financial struggles, they are now just one of many creditors hoping to recover their money.
