BULAWAYO – The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is still considering the application for an operating licence by StarLink, contrary to reports that it banned the satellite internet provider, an official has said.
POTRAZ director general Gift Machengete said this on Wednesday while addressing delegates attending the Digital Economy Conference being held on the sidelines of the 64th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
He said the correct position is that Starlink is not permitted to sell its products in the country since it has not yet been granted a licence to operate.
“Currently, we are in the process of looking at their application. So, in short, we have not banned them,” he said.
“Let me start by saying it’s not correct because the government or POTRAZ has not blocked StarLink. I know a lot of people talk about that as having been done but it’s not true, and it’s not based on any evidence at all.”
Machengete further explained that as the licensing authority for telecommunications, POTRAZ would not block Star Link as the country already has a licensed geostationary satellite.
“Let me explain that as POTRAZ, we are the licensing authority for telecommunications and we give a licensing framework for operations. We are technology-neutral and already we have a geostationary satellite.
“These (StarLink) are just the other satellite service providers and we already have geostationary satellites licensed in the country so there is no way we would be seen blocking StarLink because we are technology-neutral.
“I hope that is clear,” he said.
Machengete said POTRAZ simply requested StarLink to switch off locals who were using its terminals illegally as it could not allow lawlessness.
“I think those who were switched off and maybe there is some outcry but you see, those were illegal and they will be regularised when they are licensed,” he said. New Ziana
