Namibia Rejects Starlink Licence Application, CRAN Confirms Decision in Government Gazette
By TUW
Namibia’s telecommunications regulator has turned down an application by satellite internet provider Starlink to operate in the country, according to an official notice published in the Government Gazette on Monday.
The decision was taken by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), which resolved not to grant a telecommunications service licence to Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Ltd. The company is linked to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, whose global satellite network has been expanding across several African countries.
CRAN spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano confirmed the outcome following the publication of the notice dated 23 March, stating that the authority declined to issue a class comprehensive telecommunications service licence to the company. The decision means Starlink will not be allowed to legally provide satellite internet services in Namibia at this stage.
Starlink, a satellite-based internet service operated by SpaceX, had applied for both a telecommunications licence and access to radio spectrum required to operate in Namibia. The application went through a public consultation process last year, during which hundreds of submissions were received from members of the public and industry stakeholders before the regulator made its final determination.
The licence refusal follows earlier regulatory warnings that the company could not operate in Namibia without proper authorisation. In previous statements, CRAN said all telecommunications providers must comply with the country’s Communications Act before offering services, regardless of their international presence.
Starlink has been expanding its satellite internet services across Africa in recent years, but its entry into some countries has faced delays due to licensing requirements and local ownership rules imposed by national regulators.
The latest decision means Namibian users hoping for official access to Starlink services may have to wait until a new application is submitted and approved under the country’s telecommunications laws.
