Just months after denying Starlink permission to operate in Namibia, the country’s communications regulator has doubled down on its decision, rejecting an appeal from the satellite internet provider and reaffirming that the company does not meet local ownership requirements.
The decision puts to an end, at least for now, a dispute that began in 2024, when authorities ordered the satellite internet provider to cease operations over allegations it was operating without the necessary approvals.
According to Reuters, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has upheld its March decision to deny Starlink both a telecommunications service licence and access to radio spectrum, leaving the company unable to launch commercial operations in the southern African nation.
In a statement, the regulator said Starlink’s application “remained non-compliant with the ownership and control requirements” outlined under Section 46 of Namibia’s Communications Act.
CRAN also noted that Starlink’s request for reconsideration arrived after the April 23 statutory deadline, providing another reason why the appeal could not proceed.
The regulator revealed that it received an unexpectedly large response from the public after the original decision, with 624 requests seeking a review of the ruling. However, 622 of those submissions were dismissed due to procedural or jurisdictional issues.
The remaining two requests were examined but, according to CRAN, neither presented new evidence nor identified any material errors in the original decision. As a result, the regulator concluded that there was no basis to reverse its earlier ruling.
Starlink had argued that there is strong demand for its service in Namibia. According to the company, a public consultation conducted during the licensing process showed overwhelming support, with 98.6% of respondents backing the proposal.
Namibia is not the only southern African market where Starlink has struggled to gain a foothold. In neighbouring South Africa, the service remains unavailable as regulators require telecommunications operators to have at least 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups.
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