By: Nana Appiah
Acquaye
Namibia
has blocked Starlink, a spectrum licence required for access to radio frequency
spectrum, as well as a telecommunications licence to provide its satellite
services in the country. The decision, published in the government gazette on
23 March 2026, did not include a reason for the rejection. According to the
Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), the application had been
submitted through Starlink’s local entity, Starlink Internet Services Namibia
(Pty) Limited.
Furthermore,
the notice indicates that the local entity has no ownership attributed to
Namibian citizens, a factor that may have weighed on the regulator’s decision.
This reflects a broader pattern observed in South Africa, where local equity
participation has proven critical in securing licence approvals for
foreign-owned technology providers.
CRAN
noted that the decision is not necessarily final, indicating it may be
reconsidered either on its own initiative or following a petition from an
aggrieved party within 90 days. The regulator has yet to provide further
clarity, with a spokesperson stating that a formal communication will be issued
in due course. SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, has not yet responded to
CRAN’s decision, leaving its position on the development unclear.
