Namibia Rejects Starlink Licence Application Over Ownership and Regulatory Concerns
They noted that other satellite communication providers have been licensed in the past and encouraged applicants to reapply after addressing regulatory gaps, reaffirming the country’s commitment to balancing technological advancement with national regulatory safeguards.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology have formally explained the government’s decision to decline a licensing application by Starlink Internet Services Namibia during a public press conference held in Windhoek.
The briefing was led by Namibia’s Minister of ICT, Emma Theofelus, alongside the Chairperson of CRAN, Professor Tulimeva Mufeti. The officials stated that the decision to reject the application was published in the Government Gazette on 23 March 2026, following a detailed regulatory assessment conducted under the country’s Communications Act.
Authorities explained that the application was evaluated against six statutory criteria, including competition, technical and financial capacity, spectrum availability, ownership and control, national security considerations, and compliance history. While the applicant met several technical and market-related requirements, regulators said the application failed to satisfy all mandatory conditions required for approval.
A key reason for the rejection was non-compliance with Namibia’s ownership requirements under Section 46 of the Communications Act, which mandates at least 51% Namibian ownership for licensed operators unless an exemption is granted. Officials noted that the applicant remained fully foreign-owned and did not obtain the required exemption.
The regulators also raised concerns related to national security and regulatory oversight, arguing that the proposed satellite-based business model could limit domestic jurisdiction and enforcement capabilities. In addition, the Authority cited compliance issues, including allegations of operating without a valid licence and failure to respond to regulatory summons.
CRAN further stated that although the application met criteria related to competition, technical capability, and frequency availability, it ultimately satisfied only three out of the six required conditions. Since all criteria must be met for approval, the application was formally declined, including the associated spectrum licence request.
Despite the rejection, officials emphasized that Namibia remains open to innovation and future applications. They noted that other satellite communication providers have been licensed in the past and encouraged applicants to reapply after addressing regulatory gaps, reaffirming the country’s commitment to balancing technological advancement with national regulatory safeguards.
