Space Race in Africa: UAE’s Space42 Takes on Starlink

UAE’s Space42 is looking to take on Elon Musk’s Starlink as the main space-tech provider in Africa. Space42 also teamed up with Microsoft and Ersi on an initiative to map Africa. The geospatial data generated could have implications on infrastructure planning, economic development and innovation.

Bloomberg 8/24/2025

Space42 Plans Fundraising to Grow African Mapping Project

Africa’s an attractive market for satellite companies, with a young, fast-growing population that’s increasingly demanding internet access, and a terrestrial infrastructure that leaves vast swathes of the continent uncovered. Still, the patchwork of regulatory requirements across its dozens of countries makes it a challenge. 

Space42 is also competing with Elon Musk’s much larger Starlink service, which is already operating in 18 countries on the continent. 

In South Africa, Africa’s biggest economy, Musk has been pushing authorities to back down from Black Economic Empowerment rules** that would require him to cede a 30% ownership stake to Black holders to qualify for a license. If he successfully lobbies to replace the requirement with an alternative investment program, it would also pave the way for Space42. ***

Story by Jennifer Zabasajja and Loni Prinsloo | Bloomberg – 8/22/2025

**BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT RULES: Brought by efforts of the ANC, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is a policy of the South African government which aims to facilitate broader participation in the economy by black people. A form of affirmative action, it is intended especially to redress the inequalities created by apartheid.

***South Africa is prioritizing a policy-review process that may result in Elon Musk’s SpaceX and other satellite-internet companies being allowed to operate in Africa’s largest economy without ceding ownership. [See (South Africa Pushes Rule Review That Would Ease Starlink Entry)]