The Namibian Government has confirmed that Starlink has not been granted a license to operate in the country after failing to meet key regulatory requirements.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Government Information Centre, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, alongside Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia Board Chairperso, Tulimevava Mufeti, said the application was assessed against six criteria, of which only three were met. A key area of non-compliance was the failure to meet Namibia’s local ownership requirements. Under Section 46 of the communications Act, telecommunications operators must have at least 51 % shareholding held by Namibian citizens or locally registered entities. “The application could not be approved as it did not meet all the necessary conditions,” Theofelus said, adding that Namibia’s regulatory framework is designed to ensure that the benefits of in-novation are shared broadly among its citizens.
SpaceX’s Starlink, founded by Elon Musk, provides satellite-based internet services aimed at improving connectivity in remote and underserved areas. Its expansion across parts of Africa has been closely watched as countries balance the need for improved digital access with regulatory compliance and economic participation. The Namibian Government reiterated its commitment to supporting technological advancement, while emphasising that all operators must adhere to national laws and policies. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has indicated that applications will continue to be evaluated in line with established legal and regulatory frameworks.
By Eileen van der Schyff
Sources:
Namibian Sun – “CRAN rejects Starlink license over ownership, security concerns”
The Namibian – “Namibia rejects Starlink license over legal and security concerns”
New Era – “Starlink rejection based on legal, national security grounds”
Namibia Press Agency reports on government briefing
Reuters – “Musk’s Starlink denied Namibia license over ownership and compliance reasons”
