Starlink Denied Operating Approval in Namibia After CRAN Reconsideration Decision

Namibia’s telecom regulator has confirmed that Starlink’s attempt to secure operating approval in the country remains unsuccessful after both its initial licence applications and its appeal were rejected.

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)  had earlier turned down Starlink ’s request for a telecommunications service licence and a radio spectrum access licence in March. The decision was based on the company’s failure to comply with local ownership and control requirements set out under Namibia’s Communications Act.

Following that decision, Starlink submitted a request for reconsideration, which has now also been dismissed. The regulator said the request was submitted after the legally allowed deadline, making it invalid from a procedural standpoint.

CRAN also noted that it received a total of 624 reconsideration submissions from members of the public and stakeholders. Most of these were rejected due to procedural or jurisdictional shortcomings, while the rest did not present new evidence or identify errors significant enough to alter the original ruling.

With no new legal or factual basis provided, the regulator maintained its earlier position, leaving Starlink without approval to operate in Namibia.

The outcome reflects ongoing challenges the company faces across southern Africa, where telecom licensing frameworks place strict requirements on local ownership and participation. Similar regulatory debates continue in neighbouring markets, where efforts to find alternative compliance models have yet to resolve long-standing policy constraints.