Speaking at the Wapaloza conference hosted by the Wireless Access Providers' Association on Tuesday, Dominic Cull, a regulatory expert at communications sector legal advisory firm Ellipsis , said it will be at least two years before new regulations will be in place to allow for equity equivalents - and even that prediction is optimistic.
"On average, it takes a minimum of five years to develop a piece of legislation in South Africa and another three years to translate that into a regulatory framework that is enforceable and applicable," Cull said.
"Optimistically - and there is no historical precedent justifying optimism in this case - it will be another 18 months to two years before Icasa is ready with a regulatory framework on EEIPs equity equivalence investment programmes. So, Starlink's application, if they are still interested, will realistically come towards the end of 2027."
Communications minister Solly Malatsi in May issued a draft policy to communications regulator Icasa in which he wants the regulator to explore how EEIPs - already used extensively in other sectors of the economy - could be introduced in ICT sector licensing.
"This work predates the events of last week and was the third layer of the events culminating in the gazette," Malatsi told parliament. "I want to be clear that it is not about introducing a dispensation for any individual nor any company nor about introducing preference."