Starlink has quietly removed its Roam Service from African countries, causing confusion among users. Without any formal announcement, Starlink has stopped offering the service to users trying to sign up from African countries. When attempting to subscribe to the Starlink Roam Service, users now receive an error message: “Starlink Roam is not available in your area. Please select a valid country where Starlink Roam can be purchased and shipped.”
The list of valid countries does not include any in Africa, leaving users in the region unable to access the Roam option. Roam was popular among users in countries where Starlink is not yet licensed, as it allowed them to purchase kits from neighboring nations and register on the Regional Roam package. Zimbabweans, for example, often bought kits from Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Eswatini before Starlink’s local licensing. Initially, the Roam package cost around $40, but this price increased to $100 in August.
The removal of Roam affects users in countries like South Africa, where Starlink is still unlicensed. Previously, South Africans could travel to Zimbabwe, purchase Starlink kits, and activate them using Roam. This workaround is no longer available, possibly indicating Starlink’s attempt to prevent further unlicensed usage.
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It is unclear whether this change impacts users who have already subscribed to the service. Some users may still receive a 60-day grace period, though there is a possibility that refunds could be issued.
Additionally, Starlink has begun suspending roaming accounts in Zimbabwe for users who have exceeded the 60-day grace period. It’s estimated that around 5,000 Zimbabweans had Roam accounts before Starlink’s license was approved. These users now need to transfer their kits to Zimbabwean addresses to continue using the service.
More details will emerge as Starlink provides further clarity.
