Namibia has turned down an application from Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, for a license to operate in the country. This decision marks another hurdle for Starlink’s expansion efforts in southern Africa.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced the rejection without providing specific reasons, but highlighted that Starlink’s local subsidiary lacked the required local ownership. Under Namibian law, at least 51% of any telecommunications company’s shares must be held by citizens or local entities.
While Starlink operates in approximately 25 African nations, it has encountered regulatory challenges elsewhere, notably in South Africa, where similar ownership requirements have hindered its launch.
Namibia, formerly a German colony, was governed by South Africa’s white-minority regime until achieving independence in 1990. The country has since implemented policies to enhance local business ownership and address racial inequalities.
Starlink claims on its website that it has established a local company with the intention of partnering with Namibian businesses and creating job opportunities. Cran stated that it could revisit its decision either proactively or through a petition from affected parties within the next 90 days.
In 2024, Cran ordered Starlink to cease all operations in Namibia for allegedly operating without a license and cautioned the public against purchasing Starlink equipment or subscribing to its services, as such activities would be illegal.
Musk, born in South Africa before relocating to Canada and then the US, has voiced his concerns about what he calls “racist ownership laws” preventing his company from advancing in South Africa. In a previous post on X, he claimed his service was barred from operating there solely due to his race, criticising the country’s black economic empowerment policies as impediments to foreign investment.
The South African government refuted Musk’s perspective, stating that Starlink could operate provided it adhered to local laws. It pointed out that over 600 US companies, including tech giant Microsoft, successfully comply with these regulations in the country.
