Imelda Ambondo
The government says the application by internet service company, Starlink to operate in Namibia was blocked for failing to satisfy affirmative action laws and security regulation.
Starlink owned by South African born-American billionaire Elon Musk was blocked by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) this week for sailing to satisfy all license requirements- CRAN said.
However, Starlink or any affected party may request a reconsideration within 30 days from 23 March 2026.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, and CRAN Board Chairperson Tulimevava Mufeti said at a press briefing on Tuesday that after a thorough assessment, Starlink met only three of the six requirements – leading to their application being disapproved.
The minister added that the Government remains committed to ensuring that innovation benefits the wellbeing of all Namibians.
“The government through the authority seeks to balance the encouragement of innovation and investment with the need to ensure full compliance with the legal and regulatory framework governing the sector” Theofelus said.
CRAN said it remains committed to expanding access to telecommunications services, especially in rural areas, and to “enabling investments that support Namibia’s digital transformation.”
According to CRAN , Starlink contravened the Communications Act by operating a network and offering a telecommunications service without a valid service licence. The regulator said Starlink’s contravention of the Communications Act and failure to respond to the Authority’s summons shows a total disregard for the governance framework of the sector and raised doubt on Starlink’s ability to honour license conditions in future.
CRAN also explained that data sovereignty and national control are central to the regulation of telecommunications services in Namibia, as envisaged under the Communications Act and the national policy framework governing the communications sector.
According to CRAN the Communication Act mandates that all licensees operate in a manner that promotes the public interest, safeguards national security, and ensures compliance with applicable legal and regulatory obligations, including provisions relating to lawful interception, consumer protection, and effective regulatory oversight.
This was not satisfied by Starlink in their application.
“In this regard, the requirement for Namibian ownership and control serves to ensure that telecommunications service providers remain subject to domestic jurisdiction and are fully accountable to national authorities.
Starlink’s proposed business model – based on satellite-delivered services with 100% foreign ownership – raises material regulatory considerations concerning jurisdiction, enforceability of compliance obligations, and the ability of the Authority to exercise effective oversight as required under the Act,” CRAN said in their official statement released by company Spokesperson Mufaro Nesonganoi..
Nesongano also added that ,”Starlink does not comply with the ownership requirements prescribed under section 46 of the Communications Act, as the entity is wholly foreign owned. Starlink also did not obtain an exemption from the statutory obligation mandating a minimum of 51% Namibian ownership.”
According to CRAN, Starlink only met three of the six required criteria, which led to the rejection of the application.
“Upon evaluation of the applications, CRAN found that the Applicant only met 3 of the 6 criteria required by law,” Mufeti said.
CRAN said Starlink’s entry into the market “is expected to enhance competition in Namibia’s telecommunications sector by addressing coverage gaps, especially in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is costly and challenging.”
It also confirmed that the company has “demonstrated both financial capacity and technical expertise necessary to successfully execute its business case.”
In addition, CRAN said there were no issues with spectrum availability, as “sufficient spectrum exists within the designated frequency band.
“Starlink does not comply with the ownership requirements, as the entity is wholly foreign owned. Because of this, the application does not, at this stage, adequately satisfy the requirements relating to national defence, public safety, and regulatory compliance.” She said,
Despite the rejection, CRAN acknowledged the importance of satellite technology in improving connectivity.
CRAN recognises the transformative potential of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in expanding connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas,
It added that it will continue to support investment in such technologies to achieve universal connectivity in Namibia.
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