Starlink is set to launch a ground station in Mozambique by the end of March. This move will boost its satellite broadband service, improving speed and reducing delays across Southern Africa.
Like other satellite networks, Starlink, run by SpaceX, needs ground stations to connect users to the internet. In areas without these stations, satellites use laser links to talk to each other. A Starlink dish on the ground sends signals to a nearby satellite, which then bounces the data to another satellite within reach of a ground station.
This setup allows Starlink to work in remote places like oceans and deserts, but it can cause delays. When data jumps between multiple satellites, response times get slower.
Better Latency for Southern Africa
If a user connects to a satellite near a ground station, they can get latency between 20ms and 40ms. But when data moves between satellites, delays increase. Many users in Sub-Saharan Africa have reported high latency, sometimes over 100ms.
For example, Starlink users in South Africa, especially those on roaming plans, often had delays of 200ms to 300ms. That was when Nigeria had the only Starlink ground station on the continent. In January 2025, a new station in Nairobi, Kenya, helped bring down latency to under 100ms for some users.
According to Starlink’s data, Kenya now sees average latency between 23ms and 29ms. Neighboring South Sudan gets between 39ms and 57ms. The Mozambique station, which is closer to South Africa, could bring similar improvements for roaming users.
Photos Reveal Starlink’s Latest Ground Station
Zambian Starlink equipment provider Stellar Systems recently shared pictures of the new ground station under construction in Matola, a suburb of Maputo, Mozambique’s capital. The images show 16 radomes—weatherproof covers that protect antennas, allowing them to connect with satellites in different directions at once.
More Capacity for New Sign-Ups
This ground station won’t just reduce latency. It will also increase network capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa. That means Starlink might soon reopen sign-ups in areas with high demand but limited broadband options.
Starlink also plans to bring back its regional roaming package, Roam Unlimited. This option was removed earlier due to limited capacity and misuse in unsupported regions.
The service’s official launch date in South Africa remains unknown. Since early 2023, roaming access has been available, even though Icasa, South Africa’s telecom regulator, considers it illegal. Despite warnings, many local businesses—like farms, schools, and game lodges—use Starlink because other internet services are unreliable, slow, or too costly.
South Africa’s Complicated Approval Process
Starlink’s entry into South Africa faces challenges due to strict telecom rules. The country’s Electronic Communications Act requires telecom license holders to have 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged persons.
Recently, Icasa introduced a stricter rule, requiring 30% black-only ownership for license holders. Although this rule is currently on hold, it could be enforced at any time. If that happens, companies that don’t comply may face serious penalties.
Most global telecom firms partner with local companies to meet these legal requirements. However, Starlink follows a direct-to-customer model, cutting out middlemen to keep costs low and maintain direct customer relationships.
Starlink Expands Across Africa
In 2025, Starlink expanded to two more African countries—Liberia and Niger—bringing the total number of supported nations on the continent to 16.
Among South Africa’s neighbors, three already have Starlink service. Namibia and Lesotho are expected to launch later in 2025.
While Starlink’s approval in South Africa remains unclear, past records suggest there were once plans to set up local ground stations. In 2021, Icasa type-approved three Starlink Earth Gateways, but no stations were ever built.
For now, the Mozambique ground station brings hope that better speeds and lower latency are coming to the region—especially for Starlink users in South Africa.
