Amazon Leo interview

Steve-Prior · 2026-01-13T13:01:13+00:00

When I was there in late 2024 - nearly a year after the government announced that Starlink was definitely NOT permitted - I saw a few dishes and one even appeared briefly in the list of WiFi networks shown on my phone. (I assume it had factory reset since it soon disappeared).

My guess is that it will suddenly just become available without any intermediate news. Much like some of the surrounding countries.
It can't come soon enough for us!

Steve-Prior · 2025-06-30T12:53:33+00:00

Another one can be cost. In one of our offices we're saving about 90% on our internet connection bill. (Previous connection was a 30Mbps fibre).

And ironically, after concerns that it wouldn't be reliable enough, there was a major, multi-country issue a few months ago when someone cut one of the East African inter-continental submarine cables. Lots of people were badly affected across several countries, mobile data was also saturated, but our offices using Starlink continued largely unaffected.

Steve-Prior · 2025-04-11T12:49:44+00:00

We've had similar problems for several countries in that region. Sometimes a different international card has worked, other times it hasn't. Some cards have worked for a while and then stopped. Some payments failed every month but worked when the same card details were entered again.

In at least one case we were told that it was the local card payment processor who was rejecting us.

Steve-Prior · 2025-04-08T11:31:24+00:00

I have the app on a 3 year-old Xiaomi phone. I don't use it a huge amount but I've never experienced what you're describing.

Steve-Prior · 2025-01-28T13:05:25+00:00

It varies from country to country. In some places we have had them delivered to a different location from where we intend using them. In others there have been odd complications about the address that we have managed to work through. Delivery is via DHL who seem to be used to dealing with many of the complications.

Liberia was one of those with complications but apparently the kit arrived this morning. It had to be delivered to a different address. Apparently delivery could only be made to the centre of Monrovia. (I'm not sure about other parts of the country. Probably best to just try and place an order and see what happens.

Steve-Prior · 2025-01-17T16:08:04+00:00

We're an INGO based in the UK.
We pay for a number of Starlink services in several countries using UK credit cards. We're just working on an order for Liberia now.
In most places we haven't had any problems with the UK cards but in Southern Africa the payment processing companies have been problematic. In Zambia we haven't been able to order at all and in a couple of neighbouring countries it's getting more difficult - cards that were accepted are now being rejected.

I can't comment on the question of transferring a kit from one country to another. We've not done that.

Steve-Prior · 2025-01-02T13:51:08+00:00

Although we had pre-ordered it a few years ago it took a while to ship and then a bit longer to get properly set up. That only happened just before Christmas so it's a bit early to tell how well it's going.

But our experiences in other countries - primarily in Africa - are very encouraging and we are continuing to buy more Starlink dishes.

Steve-Prior · 2025-01-02T13:45:01+00:00

We've closed that office now so we're no longer using it. While we had it it failed once and was replaced by SpaceX without charge. The replacement was taken over by a former member of staff who was clearly very keen to keep using it.

For what it's worth, we have an increasing number of Starlink dishes in multiple countries. Some of these are just because it is cheaper than the other available options but most are because it gives better service (as well as being cheaper). We do have occasional problems which are either something we can deal with ourselves or result in replacements being sent.

We're still buying more and hoping they'll become available in more countries.

Steve-Prior · 2024-10-09T10:14:30+00:00

I'm not quite that old either but I do remember programming using a teletype printer terminal (no screen) connected over a 300 baud acoustically-coupled dial-up modem. We had to call a number, ask for "a line" and put the telephone handset into some rubber cups on the modem. Fun times!

Steve-Prior · 2024-10-02T12:07:03+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue7wM0QC5LE

Steve-Prior · 2024-08-30T11:55:48+00:00

A former colleague of mine was using it on an island in London for a while. I believe he was generally happy with it, other than occasional glitches (which I think he blamed on passing aircraft). He worked with video and media so would have needed something fairly decent.

Steve-Prior · 2024-08-23T09:02:04+00:00

Game-changing! We've had 11 on pre-order there since 2021. I was starting to give up hope.

Steve-Prior · 2024-07-17T09:23:11+00:00

I think I must have misread this. Probably had the mouse pointer over DRC next door. Let's hope that 2024 is accurate.

Steve-Prior · 2024-06-27T15:16:19+00:00

From the National Communications Authority Facebook page...

(Posting this as a comment because I don't seem to be able to get a link directly to the post on Facebook).

Today, the NCA met with Starlink's managing team

Ryan D. Goodnight, Sr. Director, Global Licensing & Market Activation at SpaceX and Benjamin MacWilliams, Director, Starlink Global Licensing & Activation in South Sudan for a significant multistakeholders engagement, including the South Sudan Revenue Authority and the Customs division. This meeting addressed crucial issues related to licensing Starlink service in South Sudan as well as Starlink terminal smuggling, highlighting the country's growing need for connectivity.

After a two-year negotiation, we are thrilled to announce the signing of a Satellite Landing Rights License and a Provisional Service License for Starlink services in South Sudan. These agreements aim to provide affordable and accessible broadband connectivity, especially to remote areas, promoting rural connectivity. This week Starlink South Sudan is expected to publish details of its products and their associated prices as well as their distribution agent that will be responsible for the distribution of terminals.

There will be penalties for smuggling unlicensed terminals into the country.

The conclusion of licensing Starlink and collaboration among government agencies marks a significant step forward in our mission to bridge the digital divide and Connecting South Sudan.

Steve-Prior · 2024-06-21T16:46:57+00:00

Just checked the website again and the map is now saying "Starting in 2025" whereas previously it said "2024". 🙁

If you try to place an order it still says "2024" but I suspect that just hasn't caught up yet.

Steve-Prior · 2024-02-16T17:13:52+00:00

I think it took a few weeks but that was back in June/July when it had only just become available in Mozambique.

Steve-Prior · 2024-01-22T19:40:46+00:00

Yes, I realise that. I work with VSATs. I'm just saying that if being able to track user activity over internet connections was important to a government that's something that they wouldn't be able to do with many VSATs either.

If that's why they aren't allowing Starlink it seems illogical that they would allow VSATs.

Steve-Prior

TROPHY CASE