Namibia Denies Starlink License, Citing Foreign Ownership Rules
In 2024, the regulator went further, issuing an order accusing Starlink of operating without authorisation and directing it to halt all activity in Namibia immediately. CRAN said it may revisit the matter within 90 days, leaving the door...
Namibia has shut the door on Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, denying its bid to secure a local licence. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) turned down the application on the grounds that the company failed to meet the country’s local ownership requirements.
Under Namibian law, at least 51% of any telecommunications provider must be held by citizens or locally owned entities. While Starlink’s network now spans roughly 25 African nations, it has hit similar regulatory roadblocks elsewhere on the continent — notably in South Africa, where ownership rules have also impeded its rollout.
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In 2024, the regulator went further, issuing an order accusing Starlink of operating without authorisation and directing it to halt all activity in Namibia immediately. CRAN said it may revisit the matter within 90 days, leaving the door open to a potential review.