Chinese satellite service, SpaceSail could beat Elon Musk’s Starlink to launching satellite broadband services in South Africa.
SpaceSail launched to create competition for Space X’s Starlink and had 72 satellites in orbit as of January 2025.
China Central Television reported that the company intends to have 648 satellites in orbit by 2025 and 15,000 by 2030.
In comparison, Starlink had around 7,000 satellites providing connectivity to over five million customers in 100 countries as of February 2025 and is adding to its fleet every week, aiming for 34,400 in the future.
SpaceSail is looking to offer commercial broadband services this year and could capitalise on markets that have resisted Stralink’s rollout.
This includes countries that are political or economic enemies of the United States like China, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and Belarus, or places Starlink struggled to gain approvals like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and numerous African countries.
MyBroadband analysis showed that 18% of the African countries planned for their launch in 2024.
One of the contentious countries is South Africa which has been left in limbo with an “unknown” StarLink launch date since 2022 due to the country's strict telecom ownership rules.
Despite this, South Africa has been actively trying to increase its broadband connectivity, especially to poor South Africans in remote parts of the country.
“In a world where digital infrastructure and skills define economic success, our work is not optional; it is essential,” South African minister of communications and digital technologies, Solly Malatsi said.
“The decisions we make will determine whether South Africa thrives in the digital economy or is left behind in an era where technological progress is rapidly deepening the divide between those who are connected and those who are excluded.”
The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) approved a rule that would require licensees to be 30% black-owned. Despite the implementation of this rule being put on hold, Musk blamed it for Starlink not operating in South Africa.
“We aim to support Brazil’s national initiative with our broadband services and digital industrial solutions and drive access to essential services like education, public health, and government,” SpaceSail executive, Jason Jie Zheng said.
The deal with Brazil came after Musk was feuding with Brazilian lawmakers and his social platform X was fined US$1.4 billion.
In the wake of the political drama, South African Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has said that the government had halted discussions with Musk over potential investments into the country due to his “racist” and “unprogressive” views, paving the way for SpaceSail to swoop in.
This is due to South Africa’s growing bond with China and both countries being members of the BRICS group. SpaceSail has already signed a deal to start offering services to Brazil, a founding member of BRICS, in 2026.
Another BRICS partner it has planned to offer services to is Kazakhstan.
