Namibia has rejected Starlink’s application to provide satellite internet services in the country, with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) saying the company failed to meet key legal and regulatory requirements, including mandatory local‑ownership rules.
CRAN board chairperson Tulimevava Mufeti said Starlink’s Namibian subsidiary did not meet three of six statutory criteria, including the requirement that at least 51 percent of any telecommunications operator be owned by Namibian citizens or entities.
“The entity is wholly foreign-owned and therefore does not comply with the prescribed ownership requirements,” Mufeti said.
She also cited concerns over national security, regulatory oversight and the enforceability of compliance obligations given Starlink’s satellite‑based model and lack of local presence.
“The proposed model raises material regulatory considerations concerning jurisdiction, enforceability of compliance obligations, and the authority’s ability to exercise effective oversight.”
The regulator further noted that Starlink had previously operated without a licence and failed to respond to regulatory summons, behaviour it said raised doubts about the company’s willingness to comply with Namibian law.
The decision to deny Starlink the licence, which was backed by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, was published in the Government Gazette.
Information Minister Emma Theofelus said the refusal followed a full assessment under the Communications Act.
The rejection marks Starlink’s second major setback in southern Africa, following similar obstacles in South Africa where local‑ownership requirements have also blocked its entry.
The company currently operates in about 25 African countries but has faced regulatory pushback in several markets over licensing, spectrum use and compliance frameworks.
Namibia’s ownership rules stem from post‑independence policies aimed at increasing local participation in key sectors and addressing historical economic imbalances.
JN/APA