A Guruve based Chinese owned mining company has been fined USD700 for breaching the Posta and Telecommunications Act after they were found using Star-Link equipment.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA), the unlawful activities of SAN HE Mining company came to light on December 5th, 2023, when the police received a report from PORTRAZ.
“SAN HE Mining company in Guruve was sentenced to pay USD700 by a Bindura Magistrate for contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act, “willfully possessing or operating a radio station without a license or authorization from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PORTRAZ)”
“On 5th of December 2023 the Police received a report from POTRAZ to the effect that the company was using Star Link equipment. The police proceeded to the mine where they recovered the Star Link router and antenna,” read a statement from NPA
The discovery led to legal action against SAN HE Mining company, ultimately resulting in the imposition of a fine by the Bindura Magistrate.
The Postal and Telecommunications Act of Zimbabwe mandates that entities engaging in radio communications obtain proper authorization from PORTRAZ to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and prevent unauthorized usage.
Despite this lack of authorization, ads for Starlink kit have apparently been appearing on the internet, particularly on social media sites such as Facebook.
A POTRAZ official was recently quoted in the media as saying: “All people who advertise the gadgets are placing themselves at risk, and they are advised to stop selling and using them.
Starlink is still in the process of applying for a licence.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, which designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft, is, as regular readers will know, now available in more than 60 countries.
