Namibia Regulator Faces Hundreds of Appeals to Reverse Starlink Licence Rejection

The Communications Regulatory Authority has received 624 review applications from citizens after denying Elon Musk’s satellite internet service over local ownership and national security requirements.

Namibia’s telecommunications regulator is facing mounting pressure to reconsider its decision to block Starlink after receiving hundreds of review applications from citizens and stakeholders seeking to overturn the ruling.

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia confirmed it has received 624 applications challenging its March 2026 decision to reject Starlink Internet Services Namibia’s bid for a telecommunications operating licence. The wave of objections underscores Starlink’s growing popularity in a country where large parts still struggle with patchy internet coverage and limited broadband access.

“CRAN acknowledges the public interest in this matter and wishes to assure all stakeholders that the review requests received will be processed in accordance with established legal and regulatory procedures,” said Mufaro Nesongano, CRAN’s Manager of Communications and Consumer Relations.

The backlash follows months of strong public support for Starlink’s entry. During a public consultation process in December 2025, CRAN received 1,180 submissions regarding the company’s licence application. Of those, 1,164 supported Starlink’s entry while only 16 opposed it. Consumer interest has been building for years. In November 2024, Namibian authorities moved to stop consumers from purchasing and using Starlink equipment after demand surged despite the company lacking authorisation to operate.

According to CRAN, around 360,000 people, representing nearly 12 percent of Namibia’s population, lacked access to 4G coverage as of February 2024, with rural communities and remote settlements most affected.

CRAN rejected Starlink’s application after finding the company met only three of six regulatory requirements. Starlink satisfied technical, financial and competition-related criteria but fell short on local ownership, regulatory compliance and national security requirements. Namibia’s law requires telecommunications service providers to be at least 51 percent Namibian-owned. Starlink remains fully foreign-owned and did not apply for an exemption.

A report by Accra Street Journal noted that the decision has triggered debate over whether security concerns are being applied consistently. Local commentator Dietrich Mouton argued that Namibia already relies on foreign technology companies for critical communications infrastructure. “This is a double standard as Huawei provides us with telecommunications infrastructure like 5G,” Mouton said. “If data privacy was really the concern, it would apply to all companies that deal with our telecommunications and software infrastructure.”

Technology analyst Nrupesh Soni said the debate should focus on conditions rather than outright rejection. “There is a tendency to read CRAN’s rejection of Starlink as a country turning its back on technology. It is nothing of the sort. Starlink should be in Namibia. The only thing still worth arguing about is the terms on which it arrives.”

While regulators rejected the application, authorities have stressed that the door remains open if Starlink addresses the concerns raised. Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus previously encouraged unsuccessful applicants to revise their submissions and reapply. The review requests could give Starlink another pathway into the Namibian market as governments across Africa grapple with how to expand internet access while preserving national control over critical telecommunications infrastructure.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 12, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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