WAPA 20th Anniversary Conference feedback confirms satellite technology is no longer a niche backup plan for South African wireless providers.
For years, satellite internet access technology was viewed as expensive, high-latency, and relevant only in niche scenarios. That perception is now obsolete.
This shift in thinking was strongly reinforced during a presentation by Dawie de Wet, Group CEO of Q-KON, at the Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) 20th Anniversary Conference held in Johannesburg in March, which drew a record 140 attendees and 24 sponsors.
“It’s time for WISPs to stop seeing satellite as a competitor and start seeing it as the most versatile tool in their kit,” says De Wet.
“The success of the mass LEO market will be determined by a business model that can reach and support users at all locations with a local, human touch. That is exactly what WISPs provide.”
A market primed for LEO
The technology is no longer theoretical. Starlink has already proven the model, with simple, easy to deploy, and well-priced solutions for consumer and DIY installations. The market is now set to become even more competitive, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, SpaceSail, and multiple other constellations all bringing distinct approaches to anywhere-broadband in the near term.
The demand for this connectivity is underscored by the facts on the ground. ICASA’s own data shows just 2.7 million fixed broadband subscribers and a mere 903,000 fixed wireless subscribers across South Africa. As major fibre roll-outs begin to slow, appetite for LEO connectivity is accelerating.
The grey-market uptake of Starlink terminals before official licensing (an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 units activated in a single three-month window) is a vivid illustration of that hunger.
Building on this perspective, the broader message coming out of the conference was clear: satellite technology is no longer a ‘plan B’, but a core commercial opportunity for WISPs.
“Satellite technology is no longer a ‘plan B’ for when terrestrial links fail,” says Paul Colmer, Executive Member of WAPA. “It has become a primary, strategic asset for every WISP and ISP in the country, and the conversation in our industry needs to reflect that.”
The emergence of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations alongside established Geostationary (GEO) satellites has rewritten the rules of engagement. The industry narrative has shifted from satellite as a dying “last option” to a fast-growing, highly reliable, plug-and-play solution that is effectively becoming the fixed-line alternative for LTE.
LEO is a catalyst, not a threat
One of the sharpest questions debated at the conference was whether LEO satellites threaten the traditional WISP business model. The consensus was clear: the outcome depends entirely on the strategy and positioning of the individual WISP.
“LEO is not a competitor to be feared,” Colmer suggests. “It is a powerful complement to an expanded service offering.”
The key differentiator is delivery. Starlink currently favours a direct-to-market model, but successful mass-market LEO adoption requires on-the-ground support that a satellite operator alone cannot provide. Amazon, for its part, is expected to route services through distribution channels, opening significant commercial doors for local providers.
WISPs are arguably the only service provider segment capable of supplying genuine on-the-ground telco delivery. Mobile network operators and Tier 1 fibre providers do not perform physical installations at end-user premises. WISPs do, and their ability to carry out installations, sustain support across large geographic areas, and provide specialist on-site skills for Wi-Fi and security positions them as the indispensable partners for LEO deployment at scale.
“A WISP that offers fixed wireless, 5G, and satellite connectivity is not just surviving in this converged landscape, it is thriving,” says Colmer. “WISPs are the engineers with shoe leather on the ground in South African towns. We have the customer relationships that no satellite operator can replicate overnight.”
Despite the upside, South Africa presents a unique set of structural challenges before the potential of scale deployments can materialise, from spectrum constraints to persistent power instability. Moreover, waiting for regulation to catch up with demand is not a viable posture, and satellite offers an immediate, practical response.
“For WISPs, the opportunity lies in seamless integration: providing satellite backhaul as the invisible engine beneath their existing brand, billing relationships, and customer-facing services,” Colmer explains. “But we first need to navigate our way around the physical and legislative roadblocks to make it work.”
AI and the hybrid network of the future
Looking ahead, the complexity of managing hybrid networks, combining fixed wireless, fibre, and satellite, will grow considerably. This is where artificial intelligence moves from buzzword to operational necessity.
AI is already reshaping how providers optimise spectrum usage and anticipate traffic patterns. For the progressive WISP, it will become the engine managing multi-orbit switching, enabling a shift away from reactive troubleshooting to proactive service assurance that defines truly next-generation connectivity.
The broader message from the conference is one of opportunity, not threat. Satellite technology, and specifically the hybrid multi-orbit model, is a key to closing South Africa’s digital divide and ensuring that no household or business is left behind.
As WAPA enters its third decade, the industry association is calling on WISPs, vendors, satellite operators, and investors to embrace the full spectrum of connectivity, and to recognise that the strategic and financial case for satellite has never been stronger.
About WAPA
WAPA, established in 2006, is a non-profit trade association acting as a collective voice for the wireless industry. WAPA’s primary objective is to promote the growth of the wireless industry by facilitating self-regulation, promoting best practices, and educating both members and the market about new wireless technologies and business models. WAPA offers its members regulatory advice, technical training, a code of conduct, a forum for knowledge-sharing and business-enablement opportunities.
WAPA is positioned to be an interface between the government regulator (ICASA), network operators, service providers, and consumers. WAPA regularly makes submissions and presentations to the government on regulations affecting the wireless industry. WAPA is tirelessly lobbying for more progressive and efficient spectrum management in South Africa and is focusing on the possibilities of dynamic unlicensed spectrum for interference-free access.
Media enquiries: Lesley Colmer, WAPA
Contact details: 083-408-0151, [email protected]
Issued by: Michelle Oelschig, Scarlet Letter
Contact details: 083-636-1766, [email protected]