Satellite internet provider Starlink, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, says it will pursue an appeal after the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) rejected its application to operate in the country, describing the decision as a “disappointing outcome” for thousands of customers who had placed deposits and participated in public consultations.
The rejection, published in Namibia’s Government Gazette on March 23, 2026, followed a detailed regulatory assessment in which Starlink’s application met only three of six statutory criteria required for licence approval. The criteria not satisfied were ownership and control, national defence and public security, and compliance history.
On the ownership question, CRAN Board Chairperson Tulimevava Mufeti said Starlink’s local subsidiary was wholly foreign-owned and had not obtained the exemption required under Namibian law, which mandates at least 51% Namibian ownership for licensed telecom operators. On compliance, she said Starlink’s history of operating without a valid licence and its failure to respond to regulatory summons raised serious doubts about its ability to honour future licence conditions.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare defended the decision in the National Assembly, saying Namibia would not bend its laws to suit any individual, and that foreign investors must comply with the country’s legal framework.
Starlink contested the characterisation of non-compliance, saying it was misleading, and highlighted that more than 30% of Namibians still lack internet access, with those in rural areas particularly underserved by existing infrastructure. The company said it remained open to working with the government should the decision be revisited.
Namibia’s regulatory framework allows CRAN to reconsider the decision within 90 days, either on its own motion or through a petition filed by an aggrieved party, giving Starlink a structured avenue to pursue its appeal with continued public input.
The setback is part of a broader pattern across Africa, where Starlink has expanded to more than 25 countries but continues to face regulatory resistance in markets including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon, primarily over local ownership requirements. Ghana, where Starlink has been operational since 2024, has itself demanded that the company establish a local office and meet national compliance requirements within a set deadline.
