Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Esther FOSSI
Published on 2024-04-05 14:54:12
As in several other African countries, authorities require that Elon Musk’s connection deployed on the continent complies with regulations. While waiting for Starlink to be up to date in Cameroon, Minette Libom LI Likeng, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, asked SpaceX, which deploys Starlink, to block Cameroonian users for the time being. This is because it is illegal, as authorization has not been granted. This request was made on April 4, 2024, in Yaoundé, during the launch of the Industry Maker ACADEMY (IMA24) program by the Digital Transformation Alliance and InnoTechLab.
“I have already met with the Africa director of Starlink and we have informed her that the Cameroonian market is open but regulated. It is necessary to have a license, and we have provided them with the conditions to do so. However, as the cost of Starlink’s satellite internet packages is low and we are experiencing globalization, some Cameroonians have acquired Starlink equipment, which is very easy to use. All you need is the Starlink equipment, a code, plug it in, and you are connected. With all the risks that entails,” stated the minister.
Using Starlink kits without control poses a security problem and even risks to personal data, alerts Minette Libom LI Likeng. As a result, she recommends that users “wait for Starlink to officially obtain the license to operate and protect the market.”
The same situation is seen elsewhere. On March 19, 2024, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI) issued a statement reminding users of the country’s telecoms services that Starlink is not authorized to market its internet services in the country. The commercialization and use of Starlink kits (antennas) throughout the Ivorian territory is therefore illegal, according to the telecoms regulator.
Similarly, Mali does not accept the commercialization and use of Elon Musk’s Starlink internet terminal on its territory. In the final communiqué of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the government announced the ban on Starlink. Measures will also be taken to dismantle all kits already installed in the country.
Authorities denounce “the uncontrolled and illegal commercialization of transmission and communication equipment called KIT STARLINK by certain economic operators and internet access providers.”
The Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Congo (ARPTC) took a radical measure by banning the commercialization and use of Starlink kits (antennas) throughout the territory of the DR Congo. This decision, announced in an official statement by the president of ARPTC, Christian Katende, aims to put an end to the growing practice of using Starlink kits without official authorization.
According to the statement, Starlink has not obtained any operating license allowing it to offer its internet connection services in the DR Congo, and the Starlink kits are not yet approved in the country.
However, according to reliable sources, Elon Musk’s company has already signed partnerships with countries like Rwanda, Benin, Kenya, and even Nigeria. In other countries, it must wait to obtain the appropriate authorizations to establish itself, at least according to the regulators of the aforementioned countries.
Read the original article(French) on Journal du Cameroun
