South Africa is preparing to offer Elon Musk’s Starlink a special deal to bypass local ownership laws. The move comes just before President Cyril Ramaphosa meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
The offer will reportedly be made during a late-night meeting on Tuesday. South African officials are expected to meet Musk or his representatives to finalize the proposal, according to people familiar with the talks.
Starlink has not yet applied for a licence in South Africa. However, Musk claimed earlier this year that the service was effectively barred due to his race. He pointed to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules, which require foreign telecom operators to sell 30% of their local business to historically disadvantaged groups.
South African regulators denied the claim. They said Musk’s company had not initiated any licensing process, and no applications had been blocked on racial grounds.
The new workaround would allow Starlink to operate without immediately meeting full BEE compliance. Government officials believe this approach could remove a major hurdle while broader telecom reform is under discussion.
Ramaphosa’s administration appears keen to show flexibility ahead of his meeting with Trump. Restoring stable U.S.-South Africa ties is a priority during this visit. The Starlink issue is expected to be part of their bilateral discussions.
Ramaphosa landed in Washington on Monday, accompanied by a senior delegation of government officials. His spokesman confirmed that Starlink licensing would be addressed during the trip.
Allowing Starlink to enter South Africa would improve rural internet access. It would also signal a shift in Pretoria’s handling of foreign investment under pressure from geopolitical tensions.
The timing of the move suggests a strategic effort to reset relations with Washington while addressing criticisms from Musk. It may also open the door for broader tech sector negotiations between the two countries.
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