Namibia rejected Starlink’s request to operate satellite internet services in the country, denying the Elon Musk-backed company both a telecommunications service licence and access to radio spectrum.
The refusal blocks Starlink’s planned nationwide rollout through its local unit, Starlink Internet Services Namibia, and marks the company’s second regulatory setback in southern Africa after failing to secure a licence in neighbouring South Africa.
Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia said it had “resolved to decline” both applications. The regulator gave no substantive explanation for the refusal in the published notice, stating only that “the full reasons for the decision can be requested from the authority.”
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The notice did, however, identify a key structural issue. The regulatory body said Starlink’s local subsidiary has no local ownership, a detail that aligns with the broader regional friction over foreign control in telecom licensing and market access.
Starlink markets itself as a provider of high-speed internet to remote locations using thousands of low Earth orbit satellites. On its website, the company addresses criticism through a “Myth vs Fact” page and says it established the Namibian entity with plans to partner with local firms to create jobs and economic opportunities.
The Namibian rejection lands against the backdrop of Starlink’s stalled entry into South Africa, where telecommunications operators, including those with foreign investment, are required to allocate 30% equity to historically disadvantaged groups. That policy was designed to address the legacy of apartheid-era racial inequality.
Musk, who was born in South Africa, has publicly refused to cede ownership under that framework and has described the black empowerment policy as “openly racist.”
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