WINDHOEK, Mar 27 – The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has formally rejected SpaceX’s Starlink from operating in the country, refusing both a telecommunications service licence and access to radio frequency spectrum after finding the satellite internet provider failed to satisfy three of the six criteria required under Namibian law
The decision was published in the Government Gazette, CRAN stated that it had resolved to decline the award of a Class Comprehensive Telecommunications Service Licence covering both Electronic Communications Services (ECS) and Electronic Communications Network Services (ECNS) to Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Limited, along with its spectrum licence application for satellite internet services
The ownership question sat at the centre of the decision. Namibian law requires that telecommunications service providers maintain a minimum of 51% local ownership. Starlink did not comply with this requirement and did not obtain an exemption
CRAN’s gazette notice confirmed that the company’s local entity carried no Namibian citizen ownership
On national defence and public security, CRAN was direct. The regulator found that Starlink’s wholly foreign-owned structure raised material concerns about data sovereignty, jurisdictional reach, and the state’s ability to enforce compliance obligations. CRAN concluded that Starlink’s full foreign ownership created regulatory considerations around jurisdiction, enforceability of compliance obligations, and the authority’s capacity to exercise effective oversight as required under the Communications Act
Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Emma Theofelus, said at the press conference that Starlink was welcome to resubmit its application once CRAN’s concerns had been addressed
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