Vodacom Starlink Deal Boosts Rural Africa, But South Africa Must Wait

Vodacom has struck a partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink to use low earth orbit satellites as backhaul for mobile networks across Africa, aiming to extend fast broadband to remote schools, clinics, mines, and farms.

The deal lets Vodacom resell Starlink services to business customers in several African markets, but South African users must wait while regulators decide on licensing and ownership rules that still block Starlink locally.