South Africa Contemplates Partnership with Chinese Low Earth Orbit Satellite Internet Company
South Africa and China Satellite Network Company Explore Partnership for Affordable Internet Access
South Africa is currently in discussions with the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC) to potentially partner on a mission aimed at improving rural internet connectivity and closing the digital divide.
The discussions, which were initiated during Communications Minister Solly Malatsi's recent visit to China, focused on satellite broadband solutions that could help provide affordable, high-speed internet access to underserved and rural communities in South Africa.
CSNC, a state-owned Chinese company, is building a large constellation of nearly 13,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to offer faster internet speeds and lower latency, competing with SpaceX's Starlink. However, Starlink, which currently operates in 21 African countries, has not yet launched in South Africa due to local licensing and regulatory hurdles.
The goal of the potential partnership is to help close South Africa's digital divide by providing affordable and reliable internet access to millions in remote and underserved areas. Minister Malatsi emphasized that affordable broadband access is essential rather than a luxury, underscoring the government's push to solve South Africa's "last-mile" connectivity challenges through satellite broadband.
In parallel with the CSNC talks, Malatsi also engaged with Chinese technology firms Huawei and Honor to explore making smart devices more affordable for South African students and entrepreneurs, indicating a broader strategy for digital transformation and innovation.
The launch of the mission, which took place at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, was a complete success. The Long March 8A carrier rocket, which was used in the mission, marked the 586th flight of the Long March rocket series. The mission utilized supercooled liquid oxygen refueling and featured full-process automation, including active drift control during takeoff.
As of mid-2025, South Africa has not formalized a partnership with CSNC but is actively exploring such a collaboration to use Chinese satellite broadband services to improve rural internet access. Minister Malatsi attended the 2025 World AI Conference in Shanghai, signaling a broader vision for South Africa's role in global technology and innovation.
- The satellite broadband solutions discussed between South Africa and the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC) aim to utilize the technology of CSNC's large constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, designed to offer faster internet speeds and lower latency, for broadcasting affordable, high-speed internet access in remote and underserved areas of South Africa.
- After the launch of the mission utilizing the Long March 8A carrier rocket, Minister Solly Malatsi maintained discussions with CSNC, seeking to formalize a partnership that will allow South Africa to leverage Chinese satellite technology for the pursuit of affordable, reliable internet access nationwide.
