BY BUSINESS EDITOR
MBABANE – After going live in 2018, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has now reached Eswatini.
With the service now accessible, Starlink’s entry into Eswatini places it as the eighth country and tenth overall in Africa.
Starlink’s mission is to bring high-speed internet service to areas lacking or with inadequate traditional internet infrastructure.
The population of Eswatini is just over a million people. In the past, the nation’s internet penetration rate was low; in 2019, just 8.4% of people were online. The absence of connection has had an adverse effect on economic expansion and made it more difficult for locals to obtain essential information and services.
This situation could potentially change with Starlink’s entry into Eswatini. Starlink uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver high-speed internet. As a result, even remote locations may now rely on fast and dependable internet connectivity without depending on antiquated infrastructure like fibre optic cables.
Low latency, or the amount of time it takes for data to go from a user’s device to an internet server and back, is one of Starlink’s main advantages. High latency is a common problem with traditional satellite internet, which can lead to lags and poor internet speeds.
However, real-time online activities like gaming and video conferencing benefit greatly from Starlink’s low latency.
Certainly, introducing Starlink in Eswatini does come with some hurdles. Cost stands as a prominent challenge. Currently, Starlink’s satellite internet service is relatively pricey, possibly making it unaffordable for certain individuals and organisations.
However, with continual advancements in technology and its broader availability, there are expectations of a future price drop.
The introduction of Starlink in Eswatini marks a significant step forward. By providing faster and more reliable internet, the nation stands a chance to explore new opportunities and enhance the well-being of its citizens.
As SpaceX carries on expanding its services globally, it will be intriguing to observe the effect it has on other nations and regions with restricted internet access.
Worthnoting, The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink a licence to operate in the country.
ESCCOM has granted Starlink a general licence for electronic communications services (internet services provider and will operate as Starlink Eswatini (PTY) LTD.
The licence is valid for five years as of July 26. ESCCOM Chief Executive Officer, Mvilawemphi Dlamini, said the decision was in light of the foregoing and acting under the provisions of Regulation 10 of the Electronic Communications (Licencing) Regulations, 2016.
This comes after the commission invited interested parties, licensees, stakeholders and the general public to make comments on the application by Starlink, which comments were received.
According to Dlamini, they evaluated the application, taking into consideration the impact on the market, the comments received and determined that the applicant met the requirements for the grant of such licence for different reasons.
One of the reasons was that the service to be availed shall provide fast and reliable internet access to the general public and business, even in locations that are difficult to reach by traditional land-based networks.
Giving another reason, Dlamini said the services to be rolled out by Starlink would stimulate competition in the market and in turn reduce the cost of communication in the country.
“The technology to be deployed guarantees around-the-clock service availability and the introduction and adoption of cutting-edge technology and innovation in the country will contribute to social and economic growth,” Dlamini stated.
